Bleyke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

As a name, Bleyke was often interchangeable with Black in early times. Both names are thought to be derived from Old English words such as "bloec" or "blac," which meant "black," or from the Old English "blac," which surprisingly could mean "pale." Early forms of the surname Black have existed in Britain since the 10th century. 1 2 3 4

Early Origins of the Bleyke family

The surname Bleyke was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from very ancient times, and Walter le Blake was recorded in the Pipe Rolls for the region in 1167. However some of the family moved far north to Twizell in Northumberland, about 10 miles from Berwick. "Twizell Castle, a fine though unfinished castellated mansion of the Blakes, is seated on a rocky precipice, surrounded by extremely picturesque scenery; and near it is Tillmouth House, the present residence of the family." 5

"Blake is a south of England name, found most frequently in Wiltshire, Cornwall, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire. Amongst the old established Wiltshire families I may refer to that of Blake, which is at present best represented around Chippenham. There were Blakes in Warminster in the reign of Elizabeth, and they are still to be found there, and the name has been represented in Ludgershall since the beginning of the 17th century. An influential family of this name owned Pinhill House in Calne in the 17th century." 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Hamo le Blake in Buckinghamshire; Reginald le Blake in Cambridgeshire; Reyner le Blake in Norfolk; and Edericke le Blacke in Lincolnshire. 1

Kirby's Quest lists: "William le Blake, Somerset, 1 Edward III." 7 (William le Blake helds lands in Somerset during the first year's reign of Edward III.)

Further to the north in Scotland, early records there revealed Luce Blake was tenant of land in Waldefgate, Berwick, c. 1266 and Atkyn Blake was a charter witness in Ayr c. 1340. 8

Early History of the Bleyke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bleyke research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1185, 1219, 1266, 1273, 1340, 1536, 1559, 1597, 1598, 1599, 1608, 1627, 1643, 1657, 1694, 1695, 1698, 1700, 1701, 1702, 1709, 1757, 1765, 1772, 1774, 1780, 1827 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bleyke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bleyke Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Bleyke include Blake, Blaik and others.

Early Notables of the Bleyke family

Distinguished members of the family include Admiral Robert Blake (1559-1657), born in Bridgewater, considered the greatest English admiral after Nelson; Thomas Blake (c.1597-1657), an English clergyman and controversialist; Robert Blake (1598-1657), one of the most important military commanders of the Commonwealth of England, one of the most famous...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bleyke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bleyke family to Ireland

Some of the Bleyke family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 142 words (10 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 Bleyke family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: William Blake who came from Essex, England, sailed on the "Mary and John" in 1630 and settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Abigail Blake, who was a child sent from hospital in England to Virginia in 1633.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)