London geography help please: Blackfriars

Where exactly is the part of London known as Blackfriars? Is it
entirely within the City on the north side of the Thames, or does it
extend across Blackfriars Bridge into Southwark?

A pair of my ancestors had several of their children baptized at Christ
Church, Southwark (in the early 1800s). Sometimes the children
subsequently told the census man they were born in Blackfriars. Other
times they said Christchurch, Surrey. (Nobody ever said Southwark.) Is
this all the same place or is there something more going on?

Charles Ellson...

It takes its name from the monastery which used to be where the
same-named station is now sited thus putting it firmly in the capital
and not in Southwark. IME the name is not used for places which are
not immediately adjacent to (or within) the station. There are two
small roads using the name:- Blackfriars Court and Blackfriars Lane
which are nearby but a quick search of the City of London website
suggests that the name is not used for any general area but mainly in
association with the stations, bridge and those two roads bearing the
name. If you have a consistent mixing of Blackfriars and Southwark
then you might have someone who was born by/near [the southern end of]
Blackfriars Bridge which is in Southwark.

Peter Goodey...

Blackfriars proper is north of the river.

But Blackfriars Road is south of the river . Perhaps that led to some
confusion. I think you would be safe to assume that they were born in
Christchurch, Southwark. Blackfriars Road would have been the main
thoroughfare through the parish.

C Rihan...

This is a bit of speculation on my part here ...
I've heard that south of the river was regarded as being a rougher area.
If that was true then possibly giving birthplace as Blackfriars could make
you look as though you came from a 'better area'.

Best wishes
C.Rihan