Blue
A descriptive surname likely referring to someone with blue eyes, blue clothing, or a connection to the color blue.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 28,277 Americans carry the last name Blue. That puts it at #1,466 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 8.25 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 12,121 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Blue surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
28K
1 in 12,121
Census rank
#1,466
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
8.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
24K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 24,341 bearers of the surname Blue in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 8.25 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1466th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Blue, the largest self-reported group is Black at 45.6%. The next largest groups are White (45.0%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Blue
The surname BLUE is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "blæwen" or "blæu," meaning "dark-colored" or "blue-colored." It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century as a descriptive name, likely referring to someone with blue eyes, dark hair, or who wore blue clothing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BLUE can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a person named Roger le Blew is mentioned. The use of the prefix "le" before the name indicates its early adoption as a hereditary surname.
In the 14th century, the surname BLUE appeared in various spelling variations, such as Blew, Blewe, and Bleu, reflecting the diversity of regional dialects and scribal interpretations. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a John le Bleu from Gloucestershire, and the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 include a Thomas Blew from Yorkshire.
In the 15th century, the name BLUE gained prominence in several historical records. The Patent Rolls of 1403 mention a John Blew, a merchant from London, and the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1443 reference a William Blew.
Notable individuals with the surname BLUE throughout history include:
1. Nicholas Blue (c. 1500-1580), an English Catholic priest and martyr executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. Ralph Blue (1672-1716), an English playwright and author best known for his work "The Luck of a Batchelor."
3. Sarah Blue (1801-1864), an American pioneer and one of the first settlers in what is now Tulsa, Oklahoma.
4. Victor Blue (1865-1928), a French artist known for his Impressionist paintings of Parisian scenes.
5. Rupert Blue (1915-1997), a British military officer who served in World War II and later became a distinguished author and historian.
The surname BLUE has also been associated with various place names, such as Blue Anchor in Somerset, England, and Blue Bell Hill in Kent, England. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the surname BLUE who resided or owned land in those areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Blue
Among Census respondents with the surname Blue, the largest self-reported group is Black at 45.6%. The next largest groups are White (45.0%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Blue bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Blue surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American45.6%
- White45.0%
- Two or more races3.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Blue surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,461 | #1,466 | -0.3% |
| Count | 22,422 | 24,341 | 8.6% |
| Per 100K | 8.31 | 8.25 | -0.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Blue bearers went from 22,422 to 24,341 (+8.6% change). The surname moved down 5 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,461 to #1,466.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Blue
FAQ
Blue surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Blue?
The surname Blue holds position #1,466 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 28,277 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 8.25 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Blue surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Blue, the largest self-reported group is Black at 45.6%. The next largest groups are White (45.0%) and Two or More Races (3.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.