BLOOR
Bloor is a surname of English origin, primarily associated with the counties of Staffordshire and Derbyshire in the British Isles. The name is derived from Old English and Middle English terms related to blowing or bleaching in the textile industry.
The earliest recorded form of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Surrey dated 1199, under the spelling William le Blowerre. This early form points to an occupational origin, with the root word blawere meaning “a bleacher of cloth.” In the Middle Ages, individuals who performed the bleaching of cloth to remove dyes from wool and other fabrics were vital to the textile industry of England.
Alternative derivations trace the name to the Old English word blawere or blawere, meaning “one who blows.” This usage is connected to the operation of bellows, either as a blacksmith’s assistant or as a source of wind for a church organ, and also to individuals who blew horns, such as huntsmen or musicians. The name therefore could also have been occupational, referring to someone who played a wind instrument or managed a bellows system in various trades.
Illustrative medieval mentions include Lucia Blowere, a witness in the Assize Rolls of Kent, and Reginald le Blawere recorded in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Essex. In London church registers, the name appears as the baptism of Edward, son of James and Martha Blowers, at St. Dunstan’s in Stepney on 1 September 1661, and as the marriage of Obadiah Blowers and Ann Lavson at St. James' in Duke's Place on 12 May 1667.
The surname has given rise to several variants over time, notably Blower, Blow, Bloor and Bloure. In East Anglia the patronymic Blowers is more common, whereas in the United States the form Blower predominates.
A coat of arms granted to the family features a gold shield and a red two-headed eagle displayed. This heraldic badge reinforces the surname’s historical standing.
In contemporary times, the surname is uncommon but remains present in the United Kingdom, particularly within the county of Staffordshire. Migration from the British Isles has brought the name to Canada, where it can still be found, and is also memorialised in Toronto by Bloor Street, named after Joseph Bloor, an English brewer who established his business in the city in the 19th century.
Typical given names associated with the Bloor surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Mark
- Matthew
- Michael
- Peter
- Philip
- Stephen
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Joanne
- Lisa
- Louise
- Margaret
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Bloor in...
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There are approximately 4,865 people named Bloor in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,940th most common surname in Britain. Around 75 in a million people in Britain are named Bloor.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Bloor
- John Bloor - Businessman
- David Bloor - Academic and sociologist
- Alan Bloor - Football player, football manager
- Micky Bloor - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.