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

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The name Blackburn is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when a family lived in the town of Blackburn in the county of Lancashire. This place-name is derived from the Old English word burn, meaning stream, and referred to a stream in a dark area, or where the water was muddy. [1]

Early Origins of the Blackburn family

The surname Blackburn was first found in Lancashire at Blackburn, a parish, and the head of a union, in the Lower division of the hundred of Blackburn. "This place takes its name from a small rivulet near the town, which, from the turbid state of the water, was anciently called Blakeburn, or "the yellow bourne." A castle is said to have been built here, probably by the Romans, which, after their departure from the island, was occupied successively by the Britons and the Saxons; but there are no vestiges of it, nor can even its site be distinctly ascertained. Blackburn was formerly the capital of a district called Blackburnshire." [2]

The earliest record of the family was Henry de Blackeburn who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1206. [3]

Early records of one branch of the family were found in Garston, Lancashire. "Robert de Blackburn held Garston for nearly forty years, dying about the year 1354; his wife Ellen is mentioned in 1332. He acquired various portions of land from the minor owners. Robert de Blackburn was succeeded by his eldest son John, who even before his father's death seems to have taken an active part in managing the estate. (fn. 35) He was lord of the manor for about fifty years, dying on 8 January, 1404-5, and during this long period seems to have been constantly acquiring fresh portions of land." [4]

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Willelmus de Blakburn; Cristoforus de Blakeburn; and Johannes de Blakburn. A few years later, John de Blakeburne was listed in the Preston Guild Rolls of 1397. [5]

Further to the north in Scotland, the name was derived from "one or other of several small places so named. Willelmus de Blakeburne was witness in 1243 to the ratification of the gift of the church of Lescelyn to Lundors. Robert de Blakeburne of Berwickshire rendered homage in 1296 [to King Edward I of England]. William de Blakburne appears as Abbot of Cambuskenneth, 1394. [6]

Early History of the Blackburn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blackburn research. Another 152 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1243, 1296, 1501, 1652, 1658, 1669, 1683, 1690, 1700, 1705, 1741, 1743 and 1786 are included under the topic Early Blackburn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blackburn Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Blackburn family name include Blackburn, Blackbyrn, Blackbirn, Blackburne, Blackborn, Blagburn, Blackbyrne and many more.

Early Notables of the Blackburn family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Lancelot Blackburne (sometimes Blackburn or Blackbourne), (1658-1743), an English clergyman, who became Archbishop of York, and some believe to have been a pirate. He was the son of Richard Blackburne...
  • Richard Blackburne (b. 1652), was an English physician, born in London in 1652, and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his degree of B.A. in 1669
  • John Blackburne (1690-1786), was an English botanist, of Orford, near Warrington who maintained an extensive garden, including very many exotic species. [7]

Blackburn World Ranking

In the United States, the name Blackburn is the 730th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. [8] However, in Canada, the name Blackburn is ranked the 784th most popular surname with an estimated 6,864 people with that name. [9] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Blackburn is the 481st popular surname. [10] Australia ranks Blackburn as 886th with 4,441 people. [11] New Zealand ranks Blackburn as 702nd with 1,012 people. [12] The United Kingdom ranks Blackburn as 469th with 13,867 people. [13]

United States Blackburn migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Blackburn surname or a spelling variation of the name include :

Blackburn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Blackburn, who settled in Virginia in 1624
  • Daniel Blackburn who settled in Virginia in the year 1640
  • Samuel Blackburn, who arrived in Maryland in 1660 [14]
  • Robert Blackburn, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 [14]
Blackburn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Andrew Blackburn, who arrived in Georgia in 1751 [14]
  • Richard Blackburn, who arrived in Virginia in 1757 [14]
  • Benjamin Blackburn, who arrived in Bermuda in 1774 [14]
  • Eleanor Wardrobe Blackburn, who landed in Virginia in 1785 [14]
Blackburn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Blackburn, aged 36, who arrived in New York in 1816 [14]
  • Thomas Blackburn, who landed in New York in 1846 [14]
  • W Blackburn, who landed in San Francisca, California in 1851 [14]
  • D Blackburn, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [14]
  • Mr. Blackburn, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 [14]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Blackburn migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Blackburn Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Ann Blackburn, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774
  • Christ Blackburn, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774
  • Jacob Blackburn, aged 27, who arrived in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1774
  • Thomas Blackburn, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
  • Robert Blackburn, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Blackburn Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Blackburn, aged 19, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Robert Burns" in 1834
  • Catherine Blackburn, aged 17, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Robert Burns" in 1834

Australia Blackburn migration to Australia +

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

Blackburn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Blackburn, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Caledonia" in 19th June 1822, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [15]
  • Thomas Blackburn, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [16]
  • Mr. George Blackburn who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]
  • Mr. William Blackburn who was convicted in Leeds, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]
  • Mr. John Blackburn, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Blackburn 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:

Blackburn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Jane Blackburn, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Worsley" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th October 1858 [19]
  • Mr. John Blackburn, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Maori" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 3rd November 1859 [19]
  • Mrs. Ann Blackburn, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Maori" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 3rd November 1859 [19]
  • Mr. GeorgeBlackburn, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 [19]
  • George Blackburn, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 [20]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Blackburn (post 1700) +

  • Roderick "Rod" Blackburn (1939-2021), American ice hockey goaltender who was the first All-American for New Hampshire in 1961
  • Tommy Blackburn (1913-1994), American naval aviator and World War II flying ace
  • Tom W. Blackburn (1913-1992), American writer and lyricist
  • Brigadier-General Thomas Welch Blackburn (1892-1964), American Commanding Officer 3rd Fighter Command (1944-1946) [21]
  • Lou Blackburn (b. 1922), American jazz trombonist [22]
  • Paul Blackburn (1926-1971), American Poet and translator
  • Clarice Blackburn (1921-1995), American actress
  • Robert Blackburn (b. 1920), American artist, printmaker and teacher
  • Barbara Blackburn (d. 2008), American World's fastest typist
  • John T. Blackburn, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 11 aerial victories
  • ... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. James  Blackburn Sr. (1880-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [23]
  • Mrs. Eva  Blackburn (1883-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [23]
  • Master James  Blackburn (1906-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [23]
  • Master Gerald St. Clair  Blackburn (1916-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [23]
HMS Dorsetshire
  • Leslie Blackburn (d. 1945), British Yeoman of Signals aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking [24]
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. J G Blackburn, British Pay Sub Lieutenant, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [25]
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. George A. Blackburn, Canadian 3rd Class passenger from Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered [26]

Suggested Readings for the name Blackburn +

  • Blackburn and Allied Descendants of John Blackburn, Sr., Who Came from Ireland to Pennsylvania in 1736 by Evelyn Gibson.
  • Blackburns, Today and Yesterday by Frances Blackburn Hilliard.
  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. 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)
  7. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  10. "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
  11. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  13. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  14. 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)
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
  16. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  21. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) Thomas Blackburn. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Blackburn/Thomas_Welch/USA.html
  22. Lou Blackburn. (Retrieved 2011, January 20) Lou Blackburn. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Blackburn
  23. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  24. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  25. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  26. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
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