Show ContentsBlakeney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Blakeney is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Blakeney family lived at Blakeney, in the county of Norfolk, or a place of the same name in Gloucester.

Early Origins of the Blakeney family

The surname Blakeney was first found in Norfolk at Blakeney, a small sea-port, post-town, and parish, in the union of Walsingham, hundred of Holt. "This place was called Snitterley in the time of Henry III., who granted it a market: it assumed its present name in the reign of Edward III." 1

Blakeney consisted of seven villages whose tenant-in-chief was Earl Hugh of Chester. Some of these villages were submerged by the sea by the Middle Ages. Conjecturally, the Blakeneys are descended from the first early Norman noble who held his lands from Earl Hugh. One reference states "Blakeney is a parish in Norfolk, in which county the family had great possessions. " 2

The first record of the family was found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where Adam de Blakeneye from London was listed. Later and further to the north, Johannes Blaunkeney was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 3

Nicholas de Blakney was listed in Norfolk in 1392 and later Elizabeth Blakney was listed there in 1515. 4

Early History of the Blakeney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blakeney research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1438, 1575, 1672, 1679, 1690, 1702, 1709, 1721, 1729, 1733, 1756, 1761 and 1976 are included under the topic Early Blakeney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blakeney Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Blakeney has been recorded under many different variations, including Blakeney, Blakeny, Blackney, Blakney, Blakny, Blaknie, Blakenie, Blaykney, Blayknie, Blaikney and many more.

Early Notables of the Blakeney family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Blakeney of Norfolk

Blakeney Ranking

In the United States, the name Blakeney is the 6,411st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5

Ireland Migration of the Blakeney family to Ireland

Some of the Blakeney family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 194 words (14 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Blakeney migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Blakeneys were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Blakeney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Blakeney, who landed in North America in 1772
Blakeney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Harriet Blakeney, aged 56, who landed in America from England, in 1892
  • Fanny Blakeney, aged 39, who settled in America, in 1896
Blakeney Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Virginia Vaugh Blakeney, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
  • William Blakeney, aged 17, who landed in America from Enniscrone, Ireland, in 1908
  • Marie Blakeney, aged 50, who landed in America from Sliglass, Ireland, in 1908
  • Evelyn Annie Blakeney, aged 19, who landed in America from Sliglass, Ireland, in 1908
  • Frederick Blakeney, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Gloucester, England, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Blakeney migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Blakeney Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Chambers Blakeney, "Blakely" U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 6

Australia Blakeney migration to Australia +

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

Blakeney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Sarah Blakeney who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 31st December 1831, arriving in New South Wales 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Blakeney (post 1700) +

  • Eric Blakeney (b. 1959), American Edgar Allan Poe Award nominated writer and producer, known for Gun Shy (2000), Generation X (1996) and Booker (1989)
  • Colonel William Blakeney (1735-1804), Irish British Army officer and politician; he fought in the American War of Independence at the Battle of Bunker Hill (1775) where he was severely wounded, Member of the Irish House of Commons for Athenry from 1781 to 1783 and from 1790 to 1800
  • Olive Blakeney (1903-1959), American actress, known for That Uncertain Feeling (1941), Experiment Perilous (1944) and Dakota (1945)
  • Jimmy Blakeney, American 2003 US National Freestyle Champion, five-time member of the U.S. Men's Freestyle Kayak Team
  • Gayle Blakeney (b. 1966), Australian actress, known for Neighbours (1985), Silk Stalkings (1991) and Wombat (1983), twin of Gillian Blakeney
  • Gillian Blakeney (b. 1966), Australian actress, known for Neighbours (1985), Silk Stalkings (1991) and Wombat (1983), twin of Gayle Blakeney
  • Charles William Blakeney (1802-1876), Irish-born immigrant to Australia, judge and politician in Queensland, Australia
  • William Theophilus Blakeney (1832-1898), Irish-born, immigrant to New South Wales, Australia in 1853 and rose to become Registrar-General of Queensland, son of Charles William Blakeney
  • Brigadier-General Robert Byron Drury Blakeney (1872-1952), British Army general and President of the British Fascists
  • Professor Michael L. Blakeney, British Co-Director of the Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute, at Queen Mary, University of London
  • ... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Blakeney Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Auxilium meum ab alto
Motto Translation: My help is from above.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  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)
  4. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell


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