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

Blyden, 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 Blyden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blyden in America

Blyden is the 40204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blyden surname appeared 545 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 Blyden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blyden 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 Blyden

The surname BLYDEN is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be a variant of the Old English word "bliden," which means "cheerful" or "joyful." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a particularly cheerful or joyful disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BLYDEN surname can be found in the parish records of Northamptonshire, England, in the late 1500s. The name is also documented in other parts of central and eastern England during this period, particularly in counties such as Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

In the 17th century, the BLYDEN surname appears in various historical records, including tax rolls and court documents. For instance, a John BLYDEN is mentioned in the Hearth Tax Returns of 1665 for the county of Northamptonshire.

The BLYDEN name has also been associated with certain place names in England, such as the village of Blyden in Northamptonshire, which may have contributed to the development of the surname in that region.

Notable individuals with the BLYDEN surname throughout history include:

1. Edward Wilmot BLYDEN (1832-1912), a prominent Pan-Africanist, educator, and diplomat from the West Indies who played a significant role in the intellectual development of African nationalism.

2. Samuel Ayres BLYDEN (1771-1847), an American Baptist minister and abolitionist who advocated for the education and emancipation of enslaved people.

3. Thomas BLYDEN (1788-1868), a British businessman and philanthropist who established several schools and charitable organizations in London.

4. Mary BLYDEN (1825-1892), an English writer and feminist activist who campaigned for women's rights and equal educational opportunities.

5. John BLYDEN (1610-1678), a farmer and landowner in Lincolnshire, England, whose estate records provide valuable insights into rural life during the 17th century.

While the BLYDEN surname has its roots firmly planted in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean, where it continues to be carried by descendants of English settlers and migrants.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blyden

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

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

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

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