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

Bligen, 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 Bligen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bligen in America

Bligen is the 56073rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bligen surname appeared 365 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 Bligen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bligen 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 Bligen

The surname Bligen has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "blig" and "henn," which together translate to "small ridge." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to refer to someone who lived near a small ridge or hill.

One of the earliest known references to the Bligen name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a man named William Blighen is recorded as a resident of Oxfordshire. This document provides valuable insight into the early distribution and spelling variations of the name.

In the 14th century, the Bligen name appeared in various medieval records, including the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which listed a John Blyghen residing in Somerset. This record highlights the regional variations in the spelling of the name during that period.

The Bligen family is also linked to the village of Blighen in Gloucestershire, which was likely named after one of the early bearers of the surname. This connection reinforces the theory that the name originated as a descriptive term for someone living near a particular geographical feature.

Notable individuals with the Bligen surname include Sir Thomas Bligen (1520-1587), a prominent landowner and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another noteworthy figure was William Bligen (1645-1712), a respected scholar and author who wrote extensively on topics ranging from theology to philosophy.

In the 18th century, the Bligen family produced several notable figures, including John Bligen (1712-1779), a successful merchant and philanthropist, and Mary Bligen (1745-1822), a celebrated poet whose works gained recognition among literary circles of the time.

The 19th century saw the continued prominence of the Bligen name, with individuals such as Sir Edward Bligen (1818-1894), a renowned explorer and diplomat, and Margaret Bligen (1856-1932), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

Throughout its history, the Bligen surname has been associated with various professions, from landed gentry and academics to entrepreneurs and public servants, reflecting the diverse contributions of its bearers to society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bligen

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

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

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

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