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Show ContentsBlake History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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As a name, Blake was often interchangeable with Black in early times. Both names are thought to be derived from Old English words such as "bloec" or "blac," which meant "black," or from the Old English "blac," which surprisingly could mean "pale." Early forms of the surname Black have existed in Britain since the 10th century. 1 2 3 4

Early Origins of the Blake family

The surname Blake was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from very ancient times, and Walter le Blake was recorded in the Pipe Rolls for the region in 1167. However some of the family moved far north to Twizell in Northumberland, about 10 miles from Berwick. "Twizell Castle, a fine though unfinished castellated mansion of the Blakes, is seated on a rocky precipice, surrounded by extremely picturesque scenery; and near it is Tillmouth House, the present residence of the family." 5

"Blake is a south of England name, found most frequently in Wiltshire, Cornwall, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire. Amongst the old established Wiltshire families I may refer to that of Blake, which is at present best represented around Chippenham. There were Blakes in Warminster in the reign of Elizabeth, and they are still to be found there, and the name has been represented in Ludgershall since the beginning of the 17th century. An influential family of this name owned Pinhill House in Calne in the 17th century." 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Hamo le Blake in Buckinghamshire; Reginald le Blake in Cambridgeshire; Reyner le Blake in Norfolk; and Edericke le Blacke in Lincolnshire. 1

Kirby's Quest lists: "William le Blake, Somerset, 1 Edward III." 7 (William le Blake helds lands in Somerset during the first year's reign of Edward III.)

Further to the north in Scotland, early records there revealed Luce Blake was tenant of land in Waldefgate, Berwick, c. 1266 and Atkyn Blake was a charter witness in Ayr c. 1340. 8

Early History of the Blake family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blake research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1185, 1219, 1266, 1273, 1340, 1536, 1559, 1597, 1598, 1599, 1608, 1627, 1643, 1657, 1694, 1695, 1698, 1700, 1701, 1702, 1709, 1757, 1765, 1772, 1774, 1780, 1827 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Blake History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blake Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Blake include Blake, Blaik and others.

Early Notables of the Blake family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Admiral Robert Blake (1559-1657), born in Bridgewater, considered the greatest English admiral after Nelson
  • Thomas Blake (c.1597-1657), an English clergyman and controversialist
  • Robert Blake (1598-1657), one of the most important military commanders of the Commonwealth of England, one of the most famous English admirals of the 17th century, chief founder of England's naval su...

Blake World Ranking

In the United States, the name Blake is the 403rd most popular surname with an estimated 69,636 people with that name. 9 However, in Canada, the name Blake is ranked the 680th most popular surname with an estimated 7,661 people with that name. 10 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Blake is the 290th popular surname with an estimated 155 people with that name. 11 Australia ranks Blake as 244th with 14,101 people. 12 New Zealand ranks Blake as 305th with 1,995 people. 13 The United Kingdom ranks Blake as 275th with 22,056 people. 14

Ireland Migration of the Blake family to Ireland

Some of the Blake family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 142 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Blake migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Blake or a variant listed above:

Blake Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Walter Blake, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Swan" 15
  • William Blake who came from Essex, England, sailed on the "Mary and John" in 1630 and settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts
  • Francis Blake, aged 18, who landed in Virginia in 1635 15
  • Mr. John Blake, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 aboard the ship "Friendship" 16
  • Walter Blake, who landed in Virginia in 1637 aboard the ship "Tristram and Jane" 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Blake Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Charles Blake, who landed in Virginia in 1702 15
  • Robert Blake, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 15
  • Cha Blake, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 15
  • Jane Blake, who arrived in New England in 1740 15
  • William Blake, who arrived in America in 1765 15
Blake Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Blake, who settled in Middletown, Connecticut
  • Ellen Blake, aged 35, who landed in America in 1822 15
  • Daniel Blake, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1827 15
  • Matthew Blake, who landed in Maine in 1829 15
  • Arthur Middleton Blake, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1835 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Blake Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Philip Blake, (b. 1881), aged 24, Cornish machinist, travelling aboard the ship "Saint Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Connecticut, USA 17

Canada Blake migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Blake Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Blake, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • William Blake, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • John Blake, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Iona Blake, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Blake Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Philip Blake, from Wexford, Ireland was married in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1804 18
  • Thomas Blake, a planter of Herring Neck, Newfoundland in 1820 18
  • Theophilus Blake, who landed in Canada in 1831
  • John Blake, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Thomas Hanford" from Cork, Ireland
  • Ellen Blake, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Providence" from Cork, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Blake migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Blake Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Blake, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 19
  • Miss Ann Blake, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Mr. Stephen Blake, (Steven), Irish convict who was convicted in County Tipperary, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boyd" on 10th March 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • Miss Eleanor Blake, (b. 1788), aged 24, English servant who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1850 22
  • Mr. Samuel Blake (b. 1787), aged 44, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 4th August 1817, sentenced for 14 years for stealing woollen, transported aboard the ship "Globe" in September 1818 to Australia 23
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Blake migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Blake Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Richard Blake, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Richard Blake, aged 25, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
  • Elizabeth Matilda Blake, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
  • Richard Blake, aged 2, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
  • George Blake, aged 38, a grocer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Blake migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 24
Blake Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Blake, who settled in Barbados in 1680 with his wife and servants
  • Henry Blake, who landed in Barbados in 1682 15
Blake Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century
  • Bryan Blake, who landed in Antigua (Antego) in 1801 15

Contemporary Notables of the name Blake (post 1700) +

  • James Hubert "Eubie" Blake (1887-1983), American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Betty TackaBerry "Tack" Blake (1920-2015), American last surviving member of the first training class (Class 43-W-1 at Sweetwater, Texas, on April 24, 1943) of the Women Airforce Service Pilots paramilitary aviation service
  • Robert Blake (1933-2023), born Michael James Gubitosi, an American actor known for his roles in the 1967 film In Cold Blood, the 1970s U.S. television series Baretta and as a child actor in Our Gang
  • Stewart Prestley Blake (1914-2021), American restaurateur. He was a co-founder of the Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, "Friendly's"
  • John Patrick Blake (1961-2020), American head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1996 to 1998
  • Robert Orris Blake (1921-2015), American diplomat, United States Ambassador to Mali from 1970 to 1973
  • Michael Lennox Blake (1945-2015), American Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winning author, best known for the film adaptation of his novel Dances with Wolves
  • Arthur Blake (1872-1944), American one time silver Olympic medalist for athletics during the 1896 games
  • Marty Blake (1927-2013), American basketball executive, GM of Atlanta Hawks (1954–1970), NBA Director of Scouting (1976–2011)
  • William Burdine Blake Sr. (1852-1938), American music composer and newspaper publisher
  • ... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMAS Sydney II
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Harold G Blake (b. 1909), English Leading Stoker serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 26
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Leslie John Blake, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 27
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. William L Blake, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 28
HMS Royal Oak
  • Maurice Blake, British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 29
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Percival Albert Blake, aged 22, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 15 30
  • Mr. Seaton Blake (d. 1912), aged 26, English Mess Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 30
  • Mr. Thomas Henry Blake (d. 1912), aged 36, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 30
SS Atlantic
  • Mr. George Blake, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
  • Mr. Thomas Blake, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
  • Mr. William Blake, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
USS Arizona
  • Mr. James Monroe Blake, American Fireman Second Class from Missouri, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 31

Suggested Readings for the name Blake +

  • The Blake-Ambrose Family History by Irma Ruth M. Anderson.
  • The Blaikes of Bibb County, Alabama,1819-1988 by Chester Rankin Johnson Jr.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  7. 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.
  8. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  9. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  10. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  11. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  12. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  13. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  14. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  15. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  16. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  17. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  18. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyd
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Emu
  23. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  24. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  25. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  26. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  27. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  28. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  29. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  30. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  31. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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