Show ContentsBlee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Noble surnames, such as Blee, evoke images of the ancient homeland of the French people. The original bearer of the name Blee, which is a local surname, once lived, held land, or was born in the beautiful region of Burgoigne. In France, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules and during the late Middle Ages, names that were derived from localities became increasingly widespread. Local names originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. The Blee family originally derived its name from the name of the town of Ble, which was in Burgoigne.

Early Origins of the Blee family

The surname Blee was first found in Burgundy (French: Bourgogne), an administrative and historical region of east-central France, where the family has held a family seat since very early times.

Early History of the Blee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blee research. Another 206 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1235, 1273, 1402, 1537, 1571, 1601, 1613, 1615, 1703 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Blee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blee Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Blé, Bled, Blés, Blée, Blées, Bley, Blez, du Blé, de Blé, de Blee, du Blee, Dublé and many more.

Early Notables of the Blee family

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


United States Blee migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Blee Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Blée who settled in Philadelphia in 1808
Blee Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. William Blee, (b. 1860), aged 45, Cornish stone mason, from Penryn, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Caronia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Quincy, Massachusetts, USA [1]

Australia Blee migration to Australia +

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

Blee Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Blee, (b. 1859), aged 21, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Campertown" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 9th June 1880 [2]
  • Mr. Arnold Blee, (b. 1889), aged Infant, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship " Taroba" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 24th May 1889 [3]
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Blee, (b. 1852), aged 37, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Taroba" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 24th May 1889 [3]
  • Miss Ethel Blee, (b. 1874), aged 15, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Taroba" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 24th May 1889 [3]
  • Mr. John H. Blee, (b. 1876), aged 13, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Taroba" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 24th May 1889 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Blee 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:

Blee Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James R. Blee, (b. 1857), aged 21, Cornish farm labourer departing on 29th August 1878 aboard the ship "Waitara" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 3rd December 1878 [4]
  • Mr. Joseph Blee, (b. 1870), aged 8, Cornish settler departing on 29th October 1878 aboard the ship "Western Monarch" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 26th February 1879 [4]
  • Miss Margaret Blee, (b. 1860), aged 18, Cornish settler departing on 29th October 1878 aboard the ship "Western Monarch" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 26th February 1879 [4]
  • Mr. Samuel Blee, (b. 1835), aged 43, Cornish farm labourer departing on 29th October 1878 aboard the ship "Western Monarch" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 26th February 1879 [4]
  • Mr. Samuel Blee, (b. 1835), aged 43, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Western Monarch" arriving in New Zealand in 1879 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Blee (post 1700) +

  • Robert Blee (1839-1898), American politician, Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from 1893 to 1894
  • Francis J. "Frank" Blee (b. 1958), American Republican Party politician, Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1995-2008
  • Kathleen M. Blee (b. 1953), American professor of sociology and associate dean of graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh
  • Nathan Blee (b. 1990), former Australian rules footballer who played for Port Adelaide (2012-2013)


The Blee 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: En tous temps du Blé
Motto Translation: At all times of wheat


  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. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 19). Emigrants to Australia NSW 1860 -88 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/nsw_passenger_lists_1860_88.pdf
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
  4. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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