Find out how popular the last name Blesh is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Blesh.

Blesh, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Blesh surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Blesh in America

Blesh is the 148244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blesh surname appeared 102 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Blesh.

The history of the last name Blesh

The surname Blesh is relatively obscure and its precise origins are somewhat nebulous, with the most compelling evidence pointing towards roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe. Its earliest appearances are likely tied to the regions of present-day Germany and Austria, where surnames began to be recorded systematically around the 13th century. It is hypothesized that Blesh could be a variant or phonetic evolution of the Germanic surname Blasch, which is related to the Old High German word "blass," meaning pale or light-colored.

Blesh might also derive from the Slavic names commonly found in the regions of Eastern Germany and Poland, given the melding of ethnic and cultural lines in these areas over centuries. The Polish surname Błaszczyk is a plausible relative, with Blesh emerging as a simplified variant as families moved across borders and linguistic barriers.

The name Blesh appears in historical records in various forms. One early reference is from a 14th-century Germanic manuscript that mentions a Heinrich Blasch, a farmer near what is now Leipzig. There is evidence suggesting this could be an early form of the surname Blesh, indicating the family’s roots in rural agrarian settings.

One notable bearer of the surname Blesh was Joseph Blesh, a notable figure in early 17th-century Austria. Born in 1603 in Graz, he was a well-known merchant whose name appears in several trade documents involving commerce between Austria and the Italian states. His death in 1672 marked the end of a significant legacy in Austrian mercantile history.

Another historical figure was Margarethe Blesh, who lived in the early 18th century. Born in 1712 in the Bavarian town of Bamberg, she was known for her extensive correspondence with Bavarian court officials. She played a crucial role in local governance, dying in 1779 with her letters preserved in the Bamberg archives.

In the United States, the surname appears prominently with the arrival of Carl Blesh in the mid-19th century. Born in 1825 in Frankfurt, Germany, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1854, settling in Pennsylvania. He is noted in 1870 census records and is credited with contributing to the development of local communities through his work in the iron industry. Carl Blesh passed away in 1889.

A famous 20th-century bearer of the surname was Rudi Blesh, born in 1899 in New York City. He was a well-known jazz critic, author, and broadcaster, contributing significantly to the jazz culture in America through his work in the 1940s and 1950s. His writings remain a valuable resource for understanding early jazz history, and he died in 1985.

Another notable individual was Evelyn Blesh, an English poet born in 1911 in Liverpool. Her works were published in numerous literary journals during the mid-20th century, reflecting the socio-political turbulence of her times. She died in 1967, leaving behind a legacy of poignant and reflective poetry.

The surname Blesh, though rare, carries a rich tapestry of historical references and notable individuals, showing its evolution through various regions in Europe and into the Americas. Its association with common cultural and occupational traits of the times provides a unique glimpse into the historical context of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blesh

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Blesh.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Blesh was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Blesh was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Blesh, please contact us.

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