Blendell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Blendell came to England with the ancestors of the Blendell family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Blendell family lived in Lancashire. Other records show the name could have been derived from the nickname Blondel or Blundel which means the blonde or blond haired person. However, the Blondel spelling less common than the Blundell spelling and its variants.

Early Origins of the Blendell family

The surname Blendell was first found in Lancashire where they were granted lands at Ince by William the Conqueror in 1066 A.D. William Blundell or Blondell, Lord of Ince, held three knight's fees. 1

"The manor [of Birkdale in Lancashire], in the reign of Henry IV., was held by the Halsalls; and the Gerards of Bromley became possessed of the estate by purchase, in the 17th century: from the latter it passed to the Mordaunts, and from them to the Blundell family." 2

One of the first records of the family was that of Robert Blundell, rector of the church of St. Michael, Aughton, Lancashire in 1246. 3

Ince Blundell, in Lancashire was the ancient family seat. "The Blundells are said to have been lords of the manor from the time of the Conquest, and William Blundell is mentioned as having a seat here in the reign of Henry III. In the midst of Ince-Blundell park is the Hall, the family seat of the Blundells, a large handsome mansion with stone dressings, at the eastern angle of which is a building called "The Pantheon," erected by the late Henry Blundell, Esq., and precisely similar in its architecture and proportions to the Pantheon at Rome, but one-third less. The building contains a splendid collection of paintings, statuary, sarcophagi, urns, and other relics of antiquity, procured by the founder, and said to be unequalled by any similar collection in the kingdom: there are upwards of 360 statues, busts, and basso-relievos in this temple of the arts. " 2

"One of the Blundells settled in Bedfordshire, where the name is found in a list of the principal gentry of the county in the time of Henry VI. Fuller, in quoting this catalogue from an ancient record, says, 'Hungry Time has made a glutton's meal on this catalogue of gentry, and hath left but a little morsel, for manners, remaining; so few of these are found extant in this shire, and fewer continuing in genteel equipage; among whom I must not forget the family of the Blundells, whereof Sir Edward Blundell behaved himself right valiantly in the unfortunate expedition to the isle of Roe.' This was the expedition to the isle of Rhee, under the Duke of Buckingham. The family thence migrated to Ireland. " 4

Early History of the Blendell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blendell research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1155, 1276, 1520, 1523, 1579, 1601, 1604, 1620, 1625, 1643, 1692, 1707, 1711 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Blendell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blendell Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Blundell, Blondell, Blondle, Blundle and others.

Early Notables of the Blendell family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Blundell of Crosby Hall, an ardent royalist in the Cromwellian affair; Peter Blundell (1520-1601) English merchant and manufacturer of Tiverton, who made a fortune manufacturing kersey cloth and founded Blundell's School (1604); and Sir Francis Blundell (1579-1625), who...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blendell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Blendell family to Ireland

Some of the Blendell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 51 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 Blendell family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Blendell or a variant listed above: William Blundell, who settled in Virginia in 1698; Charles Blundell, who settled in Maryland in 1774 with his wife, Mary; Thomas Blondell, who settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1716.

The Blendell 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: Unus et idem ferar
Motto Translation: I will be borne along one and the same.

Citations +

Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3