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

Blye, 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 Blye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blye in America

Blye is the 31383rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blye surname appeared 738 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 Blye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blye 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 Blye

The surname BLYE is of English origin and can be traced back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "blæc," meaning "black" or "dark," which was likely used as a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion.

Records show that the name first appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "Blie," which was found in the records of Oxfordshire.

In the 13th century, the name was also documented in various feudal rolls and records, including the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273, where it appeared as "Bly." This variation in spelling was common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The BLYE surname is closely associated with several place names in England, such as Blyth in Northumberland and Blythe in Staffordshire. These place names likely originated from the same Old English word "blæc," referring to the dark or black appearance of the landscape or water.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname BLYE was William Bly, who was born in Somerset, England, around 1410. Another notable figure was John Bly, a wealthy merchant from London, who lived in the late 15th century and was mentioned in several historical records related to trade and commerce.

In the 16th century, the BLYE surname gained prominence with the birth of John Bly (1517-1588), a renowned English poet and dramatist who was associated with the literary circle of Sir Philip Sidney.

During the 17th century, the surname was further solidified with the birth of Robert Bly (1638-1712), a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including St. Paul's Cathedral.

Another noteworthy individual with the BLYE surname was Elizabeth Bly (1728-1803), a renowned botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in England during the 18th century.

Throughout history, the BLYE surname has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds and professions, with its origins deeply rooted in the medieval era of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blye

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

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

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

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