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

Blethen, 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 Blethen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blethen in America

Blethen is the 41426th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blethen surname appeared 525 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Blethen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blethen to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Blethen

The surname Blethen has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "blæce," which means "pale" or "white." The name may have been originally used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a pale complexion or light hair color.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Blethen surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Blechene," suggesting that the spelling has evolved over time.

During the 13th century, the Blethen family was known to have resided in the county of Oxfordshire, particularly in the village of Blethen, which likely contributed to the surname's formation. This village name is thought to derive from the Old English words "blæc" and "dun," meaning "pale hill."

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the Blethen surname was John Blethen (c. 1320-1390), a wealthy merchant and landowner from the city of Bristol. Records indicate that he owned several properties and played a significant role in the local economy.

During the 16th century, the Blethen family expanded their presence to other parts of England, including the county of Wiltshire. One prominent member was Thomas Blethen (1542-1612), a respected clergyman who served as the Rector of Calne in Wiltshire for several decades.

In the 17th century, the Blethen surname gained recognition through the works of the poet and playwright William Blethen (1615-1668). Born in London, he was known for his satirical works that often criticized the political and social conditions of his time.

Another notable figure from this era was Elizabeth Blethen (1635-1703), a Puritan author and religious leader who played a significant role in the early settlement of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in North America.

As the centuries progressed, the Blethen surname continued to spread across England and beyond, with members of the family making contributions in various fields, including literature, religion, and commerce. Despite slight variations in spelling, such as Blethyn or Blethene, the name's essence and historical roots remained intact.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blethen

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

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 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Blethen 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Blethen has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Blethen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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