Abstract: A composite rotor blade (2) with airfoil surfaces (4) used in rotary machines and a method for making the rotor blade (2) are disclosed. The rotor blade (2) includes a spar (8) with a root (12) which incorporates chordwise distributed recesses (13) which capture the composite laminate (16) which forms external airfoil surfaces (4). The root recesses (13) are sized so as to capture the volumetric bulk of the composite laminate (16) below the loadbearing surfaces (21) of the root (12) which fits into a complementary shaped recess (7) located within the rotatable hub (14). The method includes the steps of forming a composite rotor blade (2).