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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Blight was first used by a Strathclyde-Briton family from the Scottish/English Borderlands. It was a name for a happy or cheerful person having been derived from the Old English word blithe. 1 2

Alternatively, the name could have originated at Blyth in Northumberland or in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Both parishes derive their name from the Old English "blithe," meaning "the gentle or pleasant one." 3 The Yorkshire parish anciently in Nottinghamshire is the oldest dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was recorded as Blide. 4

Another source notes "This place, anciently called Blia and Blida, was chiefly noted in former times for its religious and charitable establishments. In 1088, a priory was founded in honour of the Blessed Virgin, by Roger de Builly and his wife Muriel, for monks of the Benedictine order; which, though considered as an alien priory, being in some respects subordinate to the abbey of the Holy Trinity, near Rouen, in Normandy, was yet spared at the suppression of alien priories, and subsisted till the general dissolution, when its revenue was estimated at £126. 8. 2. An hospital for lepers, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, was founded by Hugh de Cressy, lord of Hodsock, in the reign of John." 5

Early Origins of the Blight family

The surname Blight was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland. Blyth was an old barony in the lordship of Lauderdale some time ago.

The first on record was of William de Blyth of Chirnesyde in Berwickshire who represented the family and rendered homage to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296.

A few years later, the seal of Adam de Blyth was appended to an account of goods purchased at Perth in 1302. James Blyth was burgess of Dundy (Dundee) in 1485. 6

Further south in England, Blythe, Lancashire has an interesting history. It was originally held by Geoffrey Travers, whose son Henry, was called "de Blythe." Henry de Blythe's descendants "John and Robert de Blythe occur among the names of subscribers to the stipend of a chaplain at Ormskirk in 1366 and the latter also in the Poll Tax Roll of 1381. John de Blythe attested Scarisbrick charters in 1399 and 1401, and was the father of Roger, who in 1397 was charged with breaking into the parsonage house at Crossens. From him descended Roger Blythe, whose daughter and heir Margaret by her marriage with John Blakelache (or Blackledge) conveyed the estate to this family. " 7

Another source notes, William de Blithe was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Oxfordshire and Willelmus de Blythe was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 2

Early History of the Blight family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blight research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1485, 1493, 1499, 1503, 1530, 1542, 1563, 1567, 1603, 1605, 1646, 1654, 1691 and 1883 are included under the topic Early Blight History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blight Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Blight has been spelled Blythe, Bllyt, Blytht, Blyithe, Blith, Blyth, Blitht and many more.

Early Notables of the Blight family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Richard Blyth, who represented Dundee in Parliament in 1567; Cuthbert Blyth, who was burgess of Edinburgh in 1563; Robert Blyth, who was retoured heir in land of Brounslope, Berwickshire, in 1646; Archibald Blyth, who appears as a baxter in Dysart in 1691; John Blyth (or John Blythe), Archdeacon of Richmond...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blight Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Blight family to Ireland

Some of the Blight family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Blight migration to the United States +

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:

Blight Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Gilbert Blight, who landed in Virginia in 1629 8
  • Jacob Blight, who landed in Virginia in 1637 8
Blight Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Robert Blight, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 8
Blight Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Blight, (b. 1816), aged 35, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 30 April 1851 9
  • Mr. John Blight, (b. 1841), aged 35, Cornish settler departing from Bristol aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 24 March 1876 9
Blight Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. William Blight, (b. 1855), aged 48, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th June 1903 en route to Globe, Arizona, USA 10
  • Mr. William Jr. Blight, (b. 1880), aged 23, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th June 1903 en route to Globe, Arizona, USA 10
  • Mrs. Ethelind Blight, (b. 1866), aged 38, Cornish settler, from Camborne, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Arabic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 24th April 1904 en route to New York, USA 10

Australia Blight migration to Australia +

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

Blight Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Kellon Blight, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
  • Mr. Charles Blight (b. 1813), aged 21, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 27th March 1834, sentenced for 10 years for maliciously maiming an ewe sheep, transported aboard the ship "Augusta Jessie" on 27th September 1834 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 12
  • Mr. Charles Blight, (b. 1813), aged 21, Cornish convict who was convicted in Cornwall, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 27 September 1834, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
  • Mr. Charles Blight, (b. 1813), aged 21 born in Truro, Cornwall, UK convicted in Cornwall on 27th March 1834, sentenced for 10 years for maiming sheep, transported aboard the ship "Augusta Jessie" in 1834 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 14
  • Frances Blight, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Waterloo" in 1840 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Blight 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:

Blight Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Jeremiah Blight, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Baltasara" in 1854 16
  • Edwin Blight, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Baltasara" in 1854 16
  • Mr. Jeremiah Blight, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Baltasara" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 20th January 1854 17
  • Mr. Edwin Blight, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Baltasara" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 20th January 1854 17
  • Mr. Samuel J. Blight, (b. 1855), aged 24, Cornish labourer departing on 25th October 1879 aboard the ship "Eastminster" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 4th January 1880 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Blight (post 1700) +

  • John Blight, American politician, Candidate for Michigan State Senate 19th District, 1948 19
  • Mr. Phillip Blight M.B.E., British Acting Lieutenant Commander for the Royal Navy, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 20
  • Chris Blight (b. 1982), Canadian professional ice hockey right winger from Cambridge, Ontario
  • James Blight, Canadian voice actor from Richmond, British Columbia
  • Rosemary Blight, Australian Film Institute nominated film producer
  • Malcolm Jack Blight AM (b. 1950), former Australian rules footballer, eponym of the Malcolm Blight Medal
  • John Thomas Blight FSA (1835-1911), Cornish archaeological artist from near Redruth, Cornwall
  • John Blight (1913-1995), Australian poet from Unley, South Australia, recipient of the Grace Leven Prize for Poetry
  • Richard Derek Blight (1955-2005), Canadian professional NHL hockey player from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. 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)
  7. '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].
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  12. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
  14. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
  15. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WATERLOO 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Waterloo.htm
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 1st November 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. 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
  19. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  20. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
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