Show ContentsBlacher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The many generations and branches of the Blacher family can all place the origins of their surname with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name reveals that an early member worked as a fabric bleacher having derived from the Old English word blaecan which literally means to bleach. The first record of the name was with the spelling Blakere in Norfolk in 1047-64, 1 pre-Domesday Book which is quite rare.

Early Origins of the Blacher family

The surname Blacher was first found in Somerset. The name was also a baptismal name as in 'the son of Blacre' or as Blacar which were listed in the Domesday Book. 2 Notwithstanding the claim by the Irish branch of the family that they are descended from Blacar, a Norse chieftain who settled in Dublin, Ireland, sometime around the tenth century, there is no hard evidence of this relationship, and it is unlikely that such a family would have moved northward to Armagh. The Cartularium Abbathiae de Whiteby, Ordinis S. Benedicti has three listings of the name from the 12th century: Richard filius Blacker; Baldwin filius Blacker; and Walterus filius Godfridi filius Blacker. 3

Early History of the Blacher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blacher research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1312, 1630, 1657, 1659, 1660 and 1678 are included under the topic Early Blacher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blacher Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Blacher were recorded, including Blacker, Blacre, Blackers, Blaker, Blackre, Blacar, Blaiker, Blackar, Blackire and many more.

Early Notables of the Blacher family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blacher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Blacher family to Ireland

Some of the Blacher family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Blacher family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Blacher family emigrate to North America: Patrick Blacker settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1850; Susan Blacker settled in New York State in 1853.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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