Show ContentsBlatchford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Blatchford surname lived in one of two places called Blackford, both in the county of Somerset. One was a parish near Wincanton, while the other was a chapelry in the parish of Wedmore, near Axbridge. The name is derived from black ford, indicating a dark place in which there was a river crossing.

Early Origins of the Blatchford family

The surname Blatchford was first found in Dorset and the Isle of Wight, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Blatchford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blatchford research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1695 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Blatchford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blatchford Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Blatchford are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Blatchford include: Blachford, Blatchford and others.

Early Notables of the Blatchford family

More information is included under the topic Early Blatchford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Blatchford migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Blatchford or a variant listed above:

Blatchford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Stephen Blatchford who arrived in Philadelphia in 1826
Blatchford Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Cromwell Blatchford, (b. 1884), aged 21, Cornish fitter travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 1

Canada Blatchford migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Blatchford Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Reverend Samuel Blatchford of Devonport in Devonshire, settled in Lansingburgh New York in 1795

Australia Blatchford migration to Australia +

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

Blatchford Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Blatchford, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Phoebe" in 1846 2
  • James Blatchford, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 3
  • Blight Blatchford, aged Caroline, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 3
  • Jane Blatchford, aged 46, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "British Empire" in 1850 4
  • Ellen Blatchford, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "British Empire" in 1850 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Blatchford (post 1700) +

  • Samuel Blatchford (1820-1893), American jurist who served on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1882 to 1893
  • Samuel Blatchford (1767-1828), first president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1824-1828)
  • Joseph Blatchford (b. 1934), director of the Peace Corps (1969-1971)
  • Edgar Blatchford, founder of Alaska Newspapers, Inc
  • Denise Blatchford, Miss Teen Kansas 1991
  • Samuel M. Blatchford (1820-1893), American politician, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York, 1867-78; Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, 1878-82; Justice of U.S. Supreme Court, 1882-93 5
  • Richard Milford Blatchford (1798-1875), American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 13th District, 1855; U.S. Minister to Papal States, 1862; New York City Park Commissioner, 1872 5
  • James E. Blatchford, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1948 5
  • Edward W. Blatchford, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Jerusalem, 1932-43 5
  • Charles D. Blatchford, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Kings County 11th District, 1940, 1942 5
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Frederick Joseph Blatchford, British Petty Officer Cook, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 6


  1. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PHEOBE/PHOEBE 1845. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Phoebe.htm
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABOUKIR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Aboukir.htm
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRITISH EMPIRE 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850BritishEmpire.htm
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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