2000
#47,389
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 421
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.16
Very Rare Last name
Blier
An occupational surname derived from the French word "blier," meaning a maker or seller of bolting cloth.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 458 Americans carry the last name Blier. That puts it at #55,517 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 748,372 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Blier surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
458
1 in 748,372
Census rank
#55,517
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
399
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 399 bearers of the surname Blier in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 55517th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Blier, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Blier
The surname Blier has its origins in France and can be traced back to the early Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "blier," which referred to a type of fishing net or trap used for catching fish. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for someone involved in fishing or related trades.
In the 11th century, the name Blier appeared in various records from the region of Normandy in northern France. Some of the earliest documented instances include references to individuals named Blier in the town of Rouen, a major center of trade and commerce during that time period.
The name Blier can also be linked to several place names in France, such as Blier-sur-Orne and Blier-le-Château, both located in the Normandy region. These place names likely originated from the Old French word "blier," indicating a connection between the surname and geographic locations related to fishing or water bodies.
One notable historical figure with the surname Blier was Jean Blier, a prominent French architect and engineer who lived during the 16th century (c. 1520-1590). He is known for his contributions to the construction of several notable buildings and fortifications, including the Château de Vincennes near Paris.
Another individual of note was Antoine Blier (1622-1699), a French author and playwright who gained recognition for his satirical works and comedies. His plays often satirized the societal norms and customs of his time, earning him both praise and criticism from contemporaries.
In the field of art, Pierre Blier (1786-1858) was a celebrated French painter known for his landscapes and portraits. His works were exhibited at the prestigious Salon de Paris and can be found in various art collections worldwide.
Moving forward in history, Jules Blier (1875-1944) was a French military officer who served during World War I and played a significant role in the defense of Verdun, one of the most crucial battles of the war.
Among more recent figures, Bertrand Blier (born 1939) is a renowned French film director, screenwriter, and actor. He has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the prestigious César Award for his contributions to French cinema.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have borne the surname Blier throughout history, reflecting the name's enduring presence and significance across various fields and time periods.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Blier
Among Census respondents with the surname Blier, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Blier bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Blier surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.5% · 365
- Hispanic or Latino5.3% · 21
- Two or more races1.8% · 7
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 4
- Black or African American0.5% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Blier
Blier appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#49,177
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 428
+7 bearers (+1.7%)
Per 100,000 0.15
Rank movement Down 1,788 places
2020
#55,517
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 399
-29 bearers (-6.8%)
Per 100,000 0.13
Rank movement Down 6,340 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #47,389 | 421 | 0.16 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #49,177 | 428 | 0.15 | +7 bearers (+1.7%) | Down 1,788 places |
| 2020 | #55,517 | 399 | 0.13 | -29 bearers (-6.8%) | Down 6,340 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Blier surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #49,177 | #55,517 | -12.9% |
| Count | 428 | 399 | -6.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.15 | 0.13 | -11.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Blier bearers went from 428 to 399 (-6.8% change). The surname moved down 6,340 positions in the national ranking, going from #49,177 to #55,517.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Blier
FAQ
Blier surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Blier?
Name Census estimates that about 458 living Americans carry the surname Blier. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 748,372 residents.
How common is Blier?
Blier ranks #55,517 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 399 people with the surname Blier. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (458), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.13 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.13 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Blier.
Has Blier become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Blier went from 428 recorded bearers to 399. That is a decrease of 29 (-6.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #49,177 to #55,517.
What does the Census say about the background of Blier?
Among Census respondents with the surname Blier, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%) and Two or More Races (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Blier in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.5% (365 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Blier appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.5%), Hispanic (5.3%), Two or More Races (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Blier (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Blier mean?
An occupational surname derived from the French word "blier," meaning a maker or seller of bolting cloth. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Blier (0.13 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Blier?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.