Blackmer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The present generation of the Blackmer family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the area of Blackmore. Early members lived near one of two places named Blakmore, a parish in the diocese of Winchester, and a parish in the diocese of St. Albans. The place-name is derived from the Old English words blaec, meaning black, and mor, meaning marsh, and would have been used to name a settlement near a dark marsh. Another source notes the name could have meant ‘dweller by the dark mere’ from the Old English 'blæc' + 'mere', from the Old English 'blæc,' and the Middle English 'Mor' ‘a Moor’.1

Early Origins of the Blackmer family

The surname Blackmer was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Blachemer was recorded in Shropshire (Salop.) 2 Years later, William de Blakemere was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275 and later, Kateryna de Blakemere was registered in Herefordshire in 1296. 1

Baldwin de Blakomor was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Devon in 1200, as was Nicholas de Blakemore in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1307. 1

Early Norfolk records show William Blakhommore, Norwich, 1398; and William de Blachomor, Norwich, 4 Richard II (during the fourth year of the reign of Richard II.) 3

In Somerset, Margery de Blakemor was recorded there 1 Edward III (in the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Richard de Blakemore, Oxfordshire; and (Prior) de Blakemore, Essex. 5

"The Blackmores are now numerous in Honiton and its neighbourhood, There is (or was) an epitaph in the Middle Temple church to Mark Blackmore, son of Mark Blackmore, of Harpford, in the county of Devon, gent. (Dugdale's "Orig. Jur. "), which cannot bear a later date than the early part of the 17th century. A family of the name lived in Exmouth last century: in 1746 Mr. Blackmore "leaded ye tower;" and in 1771 and 1811 William and John Blackmore were clerks of Exmouth Chapel (Webb) Blackmore and Blackmoor are places in Essex, Wilts, and other counties. Blakemore is now a Shropshire surname. Blakema and De Blakemor were surnames in Bucks, Oxon, and Essex six centuries ago." 6

Early History of the Blackmer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blackmer research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1654, 1684, 1720 and 1729 are included under the topic Early Blackmer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blackmer Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Blackmer include Blakemore, Blackmore, Blackamore, Blackmere and others.

Early Notables of the Blackmer family

Notables of the family at this time include Richard Blakemore, High Sheriff of Hereford; Sir Richard Blackmore (1654-1729), English poet and physician from Corsham, Wiltshire; Sir John Blackmore, English peer who was in the confidence of...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blackmer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blackmer Ranking

In the United States, the name Blackmer is the 17,873^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Blackmer migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Blackmer were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Blackmer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Franc E. Blackmer, aged 54, who settled in America, in 1907
Anna Blackmer, who landed in America, in 1908
Helen Blackmer, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
Henry Blackmer, who immigrated to America, in 1910
Herbert A. Blackmer, aged 40, who landed in America, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Blackmer (post 1700) +

Sidney Blackmer Jr., American actor, known for his roles in Lincoln (2012), Game Change and One-Eyed Horse (2008)
Sidney Alderman Blackmer (1895-1973), American actor, known for his work on Rosemary's Baby (1968), High Society (1956) and Little Caesar (1931); he has a Star on the Walk of Fame
David E. Blackmer (1927-2002), American audio electronics engineer, inventor of the DBX noise reduction system
Matthew Blackmer (b. 1991), American bronze medalist pair skater
Samuel Howard Blackmer (1902-1951), American politician, Member of Vermont State House of Representatives, 1933-35; Superior Court Judge in Vermont, 1938-49; Justice of Vermont State Supreme Court, 1949-51 8
Robert Blackmer (b. 1953), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 2004 8
J. Thurlow Blackmer, American politician, Village President of Fowlerville, Michigan, 1916 8

The Blackmer Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pro Deo
Motto Translation: For God.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html