The Blair surname
In the 2010 U.S. Census, 78,026 people carried this name — #416 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 3,780 people counted. That is up 4% from 75,135 in 2000.
What the name means
The meaning of the Blair surname
From Scottish Gaelic blàr (“field, plain”).
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Blair» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.
In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890
Ireland registered 78 births for the Blair name in 1890.
Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 3,500 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “47 in Antrim, 12 in Londonderry, and 8 in Tyrone.”
Where it concentrates, on the mapWhere they were born, 1890
Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.
In France’s civil register
France’s register of deaths holds 30 people named Blair.
Most of them — 25 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 2 départements, most often French Guiana.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born
Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.
In the Nordic population registers
24 people named Blair is counted in Sweden.
Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.
Counted, by country
Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).
Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s
Blair was found among the farmers of 2 counties.
It was most frequent in Northumberland: 22 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 455. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.
Where it concentrates, on the mapPer 10,000 farmers, by county
H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.
In Scotland, 1880s
Blair was 20 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.
That is about 1 in 500. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Ayrshire, especially around Kilmarnock.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.
H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 587 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.
In Scotland’s registers today
Blair was recorded 145 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.
That made it the 160th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 231. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.
National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
In the first U.S. census, 1790
160 families named Blair, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.
Each family is counted by its head. About 925 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 8 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.
Families, by state
U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 230 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.
In print
Blair in American newspapers,
1828–1903.
Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 25,636 pages in all carry the name.
In print
Blair in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.
130,801 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Blair. The most, 20,534, date from the 1900s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Queensland, at 1.5 times its expected share.
Articles, by state
Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Blair.
Who carried it
People named Blair,
with a public archive behind them.
-
James Blair 1656–1743 · Christian minister -
Hugh Blair 1718–1800 · writer -
John Blair Jr. 1732–1800 · judge -
Robert Blair 1748–1828 · astronomer -
Francis Preston Blair 1791–1876 · politician
Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped — Robert Blair: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); the others are in the public domain or CC0 · 169 lives in all are documented under this name.
In the public record
People named Blair,
in the records of 7 countries.
Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.
United States6,683 records
- U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 2,553
- U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 1,118
- Other U.S. records 3,012
-
Example: U.S. war memorial War record Bobby R. BlairBorn 1931; from Cook County, Illinois. U.S. Army, armored reconnaissance crewman; killed in action 1950 in South Korea. Buried at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Oklahoma.
U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) -
Example: U.S. registration card, 1942 Military record Augustine S. BlairBorn 1925 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1943 at Philadelphia; ironworker from Philadelphia County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1995, buried at Calverton National Cemetery, New York.
U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Balbina BlairArrived at New York in 1893 aboard the Dubbeldam from Rotterdam, aged 20; seamstress. From Poland, Russia; bound for New York.
U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
Showing 3 of 6,683 records for Blair in the United States.
Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).
Australia3,215 records
- Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,686
- Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 573
- Other Australian records 956
-
Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829 Transportation record Marion BlairTransported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Cadet, sailing from Plymouth in 1848. Native of Greenock, Renfrewshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1851.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: civil register, 1880 Death record Charles Henry BlairBorn 1876 in Fingal, Tasmania. Died 1898 in Fingal, Tasmania, aged 22.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: marriage register, 1911 Marriage record Maria Ann BlairBorn 1861 in Launceston, Tasmania. Married 1881 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 20.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 3 of 3,215 records for Blair in Australia.
Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).
Canada973 records
- Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 700
- Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 100
- Other Canadian records 173
-
Example: German emigration file, 1883 Emigration record Hannah BlairLeft New York in 1783 aboard the L'Abondence, bound for Port Roseway, aged 25.
Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Laughlin BlairCame to Ontario in 1870 aboard the Peruvian, landing at Quebec, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; Scotch.
Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. -
Example: Canadian cemetery Burial record Mary BlairBuried in 2000 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 81.
City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
Showing 3 of 973 records for Blair in Canada.
Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).
United Kingdom203 records
- Stirling Council burial records 142
- War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 33
- Other British records 28
-
Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919 War record John W. BlairBorn 1892 at Nethy Bridge; bank accountant. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).
National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Alexander BlairBuried in 1926 at Mar Place Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 71.
Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Isabella BlairBuried in 1829 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 57.
MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Showing 3 of 203 records for Blair in the United Kingdom.
Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).
New Zealand74 records
- Christchurch City cemetery records 66
- Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 6
- War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
-
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Winifred Daisy BlairDied 1993, aged 85; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.
Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Roderick Hector BlairBuried in 1959 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 47.
Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Janet Thompson Clarke BlairDied 1956, aged 76; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.
Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 3 of 74 records for Blair in New Zealand.
Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).
Netherlands61 records
- Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 27
- Dutch population registers 18
- Dutch church registers before 1811 16
-
Example: marriage register, 1911 Marriage record Antonia BlairBorn 1824 in Zutphen. Married in 1859 in Vorden; labourer. Died 1893 in Vorden, aged 69.
Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: civil register, 1880 Death record Harry Eugene BlairDied 1968 in Eindhoven.
Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: U.S. census, 1910 Population register Sidney Paul BlairIn the population register of Barry-Dock (Gb); student, born 1909 in Barry-Dock (Gb).
Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 3 of 61 records for Blair in the Netherlands.
Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).
France2 records
-
Example: French death register, 1930 Death record Elisabeth BlairBorn 1908 in the United States; died 1995 in Fayence (Var).
Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
Showing 1 of 2 records for Blair in France.
Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).
Nearby in the index
Surnames next to Blair.
- Blades 4,558 · U.S. census
- Blaes 312 · U.S. census
- Blaess 180 · U.S. census
- Blagojevic 335 · U.S. census
- Blain 4,764 · U.S. census
- Blaine 6,451 · U.S. census
- Blaire 248 · U.S. census
- Blais 5,718 · U.S. census
- Blaisdell 3,852 · U.S. census
- Blaise 2,407 · U.S. census
- Blaising 135 · U.S. census
- Blaize 574 · U.S. census
When the index is not enough
This page says where Blair is.
A volume says what happened to it.
Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.