Blystone
A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "bly" (bright or shining) and "stone" (rock or stone).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,057 Americans carry the last name Blystone. That puts it at #16,362 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.60 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 166,628 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Blystone 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
2.1K
1 in 166,628
Census rank
#16,362
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,760 bearers of the surname Blystone in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.60 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16362nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Blystone, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Blystone
The surname BLYSTONE originated from England in the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "bly" meaning cheerful or joyful, and "stan" meaning stone. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a stone structure or quarry with a cheerful or bright appearance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BLYSTONE can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a Thomas Blystone is listed. This suggests the name was present in the West Midlands region of England during the 14th century.
In the 16th century, variations of the spelling such as Bliston, Blistone, and Blystan can be found in parish records across various counties in England, including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. This indicates the name had spread across the surrounding areas by this time.
A notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Blystone, a member of the English gentry who lived in Gloucestershire in the late 16th century. He is mentioned in several historical documents from the period, including land records and court proceedings.
The surname BLYSTONE is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, the name is recorded under a slightly different spelling, such as "Bliston" or "Blistone," as standardized spellings were not yet common.
Other notable individuals with the surname BLYSTONE include:
1. William Blystone (1545-1622), a merchant and landowner from Oxfordshire who was involved in the wool trade.
2. Elizabeth Blystone (1675-1748), a prominent Quaker from Gloucestershire who wrote several religious tracts.
3. Samuel Blystone (1710-1781), an English soldier who served in the British Army during the Seven Years' War.
4. James Blystone (1830-1904), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London during the Victorian era.
5. Margaret Blystone (1892-1972), a British novelist and playwright whose works were popular in the early 20th century.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Blystone
Among Census respondents with the surname Blystone, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Blystone 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 Blystone surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.5%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
- Black or African American0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Blystone 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 | #15,652 | #16,362 | -4.5% |
| Count | 1,714 | 1,760 | 2.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.64 | 0.60 | -6.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Blystone bearers went from 1,714 to 1,760 (+2.7% change). The surname moved down 710 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,652 to #16,362.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Blystone
FAQ
Blystone surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Blystone?
The surname Blystone holds position #16,362 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,057 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.60 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Blystone surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Blystone, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). 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.