Show ContentsBlanchard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Blanchard family

The surname Blanchard was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where they held a family seat in the Seigniory of Blanchardière in the department of l'Orne in the arrondisement of Domfront.

This widely dispersed and distinguished family also branched to Limousin, Bourgogne, Lorraine, and Lyonnais. Alain Blanchard was a defender of Rouen in 1418, and was hanged by the English after they took the city. A distinguished contribution by the family was made by Jacques Blanchard, notable painter of the seventeenth century. Jean Pierre Blanchard was a balloonist of the eighteenth century. François Blanchard, 1753-1809, made the first jump with a parachute in 1785.

François Blanchard, born in 1636, son of Jean and Marguerite (née Couillard), was a French gardener that travelled from Saint-Malo, located in the region of Brittany, to New France in the 17th century. He married Madeleine Boucher, daughter of Jacques and Anne (née Jocobin), in Quebec on 20th October 1665. 1

Early History of the Blanchard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blanchard research. Another 47 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1419, 1600, 1630, 1638, 1650, 1696, 1704, 1716, 1770, 1778, 1793, 1818, 1826, 1829 and 1858 are included under the topic Early Blanchard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blanchard Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Blanchard, Blanchart, Blancard, Blanchauld, Blanchod, Blanckart, Blanckert, Blankert, Blanckaert, Blancaert, Planckaert and many more.

Early Notables of the Blanchard family

Notable amongst the family in this period was

  • Alain Blanchard (executed in Rouen in 1419), commander of the crossbowmen of Rouen during the Hundred Years' War. His habit of hanging English captives from the walls of the city incurred the wrath of...
  • Others include: Jacques Blanchard (1600-1638), also known as Jacques Blanchart, a French baroque painter; and his son, Gabriel Blanchard, known as Blanchard Le Neveu, (1630-1704); and Guillaume Blanch...

Blanchard World Ranking

In the United States, the name Blanchard is the 742nd most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Blanchard is ranked the 380th most popular surname with an estimated 12,182 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Blanchard is the 386th popular surname. 4 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Blanchard as 275th with 162 people. 5 France ranks Blanchard as 72nd with 34,292 people. 6


United States Blanchard migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Blanchard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Joseph Blanchard, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1637 7
  • Thomas Blanchard, who arrived in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1639 7
  • William Blanchard, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1641 7
  • Mattheus Blanchard, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1660 7
  • Henri Blanchard, aged 24, who arrived in South Carolina in 1680 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Blanchard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Sarah Blanchard, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1712 7
  • Louis Blanchard, aged 15, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 7
  • Louis Blanchard, who settled in Louisiana in 1719
  • Joseph Blanchard, who arrived in New York, NY in 1756 7
  • Jean Blanchard, who arrived in South Carolina in 1756 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Blanchard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Blanchard, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 7
  • William Blanchard, who arrived in America in 1806 7
  • William Blanchard, aged 27, who landed in America in 1822 7
  • Elizabeth Blanchard, aged 25, who arrived in America in 1822 7
  • Francie Blanchard, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1826 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Blanchard migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

  • Pierre Blanchard, son of Pierre and Gertrude, who married Marie Galarneau, daughter of Augustin and Marie-Charlotte, in Saint-Michel-D'Yamaska, Quebec on 16th May 1774 8
  • Pierre Blanchard, son of Pierre and Gertrude, who married Marie-Élisabeth Hogue, daughter of François and Angélique, in Saint-Antoine, Quebec on 9th January 1764 8
  • Pierre Blanchard, son of Guillaume and Huguette, who married Anne Robichaux, daughter of Alexandre and Anne, in Port-Royal, Quebec on 7th November 1718 8
  • René Blanchard, son of Guillaume and Huguette, who married Marie Savoie, daughter of Germain and Marie, in Port-Royal, Quebec on 18th January 1708 8
  • Simon Blanchard, son of Louis and Françoise, who married Marie Joing, daughter of Pierre and Marguerite, in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Quebec on 30th November 1748 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Blanchard Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Louis Blanchard, who landed in Canada in 1636
  • Mr. Louis Blanchard, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 5th April 1645 9
  • Francois Blanchard, who landed in Montreal in 1653
  • Mr. Louis Blanchard, French labourer travelling to Canada to work for Jacques Pepin arriving on 23rd March 1656 9
  • Mr. Jean Blanchard, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 23rd March 1665 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Blanchard Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Alexandre Blanchard, son of Alexandre and Françoise, who married Marie-Angélique Charon, daughter of Jean and Geneviève, in Saint-Pierre-Ile d'Orléans on 21st September 1727 8
  • Pierre Blanchard from Poitou settled in Quebec in 1733
  • Pierre Blanchard, son of Pierre and Andrée, who married Gertrude Dupuis, daughter of François and Marguerite, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec on 1st June 1733 8
  • Pierre Blanchard, son of René and Marie, who married Marie Bourc, daughter of François and Catherine, in Beaubassin, Quebec on 15th February 1743 8
  • Julien Blanchard, son of Pierre and Périnne, who married Marie-Louise Lacroix, daughter of Claude and Marie-Louise, in Quebec on 24th January 1752 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Blanchard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Asa Blanchard, who arrived in Canada in 1831

Australia Blanchard migration to Australia +

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

Blanchard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Blanchard, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Thomas Blanchard, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on July 3, 1822, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 11
  • Mark Blanchard, a carpenter, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Mr. William Blanchard, English rope maker who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 14th August 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. William Blanchard, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for life, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Blanchard 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:

Blanchard Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Richard H. Blanchard, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850 14
  • Kate E. Blanchard, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blue Jacket" in 1865
  • Maude M. Blanchard, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blue Jacket" in 1865
  • Agnes G. Blanchard, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blue Jacket" in 1865

West Indies Blanchard 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. 15
Blanchard Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • William Blanchard, who settled in Barbados in 1680 with his servants

Contemporary Notables of the name Blanchard (post 1700) +

  • Robert Cary Blanchard (1968-2016), American NFL football placekicker
  • Johnny Blanchard (1933-2009), American baseball player
  • Helen Blanchard (1840-1922), American inventor who received 28 patents between 1873 and 1915, known for her numerous inventions dealing with sewing machines and sewing technology
  • George Washington Blanchard (1884-1964), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin (1933-1935)
  • Frank Nelson Blanchard (1888-1937), American herpetologist, and professor of zoology at the University of Michigan
  • George Samuel Blanchard (1920-2006), United States Army four-star general, Commander in Chief, U.S. Army Europe/Commander, Central Army Group from 1975 to 1979
  • Erin Blanchard (b. 1989), American gymnast at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games
  • Elizabeth D. Blanchard, American former politician, Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives (2002-2010)
  • Elizabeth Blanchard (1834-1891), American academic, 7th President of Mount Holyoke College (1883-1889)
  • Edmund Blanchard (1824-1886), American lawyer and prominent businessman
  • ... (Another 36 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Albert Richard Blanchard, American Coxswain from Minnesota, 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 16


  1. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  5. 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)
  6. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  7. 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)
  8. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
  9. Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
  10. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 155 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1822
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  16. 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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