Show ContentsBlachwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Blachwell name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived at one of two places called Blackwell, one near a parish in Derbyshire near Alfreton, and the other a township in the parish of Darlington, Durham having derived from the Old English words bloec, which means black and woell, which means spring or stream. 1

Early Origins of the Blachwell family

The surname Blachwell was first found in Derbyshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times. 2 "Blackwell is an old Gloucestershire surname, perhaps originally derived from the parish of Blackwell in the neighbouring county of Worcester." 3 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one listing for the family: Margery de Blacwelle in Cambridgeshire. 4

Early History of the Blachwell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blachwell research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1120, 1545, 1597, 1599, 1608, 1613, 1615, 1618, 1641, 1648, 1659, 1660, 1674, 1683, 1699, 1701, 1728, 1730, 1753 and 1757 are included under the topic Early Blachwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blachwell 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 Blachwell were recorded, including Blackwell, Blackwall, Blackwill, Blackwel, Blaikewell, Blakewell, Blakewill, Blakewall, Blaikewall, Blakwill, Blackville, Blaikville, Blakeville, Bleckwell, Bleckwall, Bleckville, Plackwell, Plakewell, Plackville, Blatwell, Blatswill, Platwill and many more.

Early Notables of the Blachwell family

Notables of the family at this time include Father George Blackwell, (1545?-1613), Roman Catholic Archpriest of England from 1597-1608; Isaac Blackwell (d.1699) English Cathedral organist and composer at St. Paul's Cathedral; and Edward Backwell (ca. 1618-1683), an English goldsmith, financier, and politician, often referred to as "the principal founder of the banking system in England." Anthony Blackwall (1674-1730), was an English classical scholar, "born at Blackwall, a hamlet...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blachwell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Blachwell family to Ireland

Some of the Blachwell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 130 words (9 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 Blachwell 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 Blachwell family emigrate to North America: Jeremy Blackwell who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635; Roger Blackwell settled in Virginia in 1636; John Blackwell settled in Quebec in 1825 with his family.



  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. 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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