Blincoe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The ancestors of the Blincoe family may have been Viking settlers. Their surname comes from a place name of Norse origins, from when they lived in the counties of the Scottish/English Borderlands.

Early Origins of the Blincoe family

The surname Blincoe was first found in Cumberland at either Great Blencow or Little Blencow, townships in the parish of Greystock, union of Penrith, Leath ward. Of interest is this entry about Little Blencow: "Near an ancient house, once the residence of the Blencows, are some dispersed ruins of buildings, particularly those of a chapel, with a burial-ground adjoining; and near the road is an inclosed cemetery, in which stands a stone cross, with the arms of the family engraved on it." [1]

One of the first records of the family was that of Adam de Blencowe who was awarded land by Edward III in 1358 and was "Standard Bearer to William, Baron of Greystoke." [2]

It is thought that original family home was built in Great Blencow. The mansion of Ennim, just south of the village was the home for many years of the Blencow family. Blencowe Hall, just to the west of Little Blencow consists of two fortified pele towers joined by connecting buildings.

"The Blencowes of Oxfordshire are probably descended from the ancient family of the name that resided at Marston or Merston, Northamptonshire, for many generations, as far back as the reign of Henry VI.; to this family belonged Sir John Blencowe, a Judge of the Common Pleas." [3]

Early History of the Blincoe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blincoe research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1625, 1640, 1642, 1656, 1683, 1701, 1712, 1718, 1720 and 1925 are included under the topic Early Blincoe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blincoe Spelling Variations

Standards against which to judge the accuracy of spellings and translations did not yet exist in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations in names dating from that era, are thus, an extremely common occurrence. Blincoe has been recorded as Blencoe, Blencow, Blencowe, Blacoe, Blackow, Blacowe, Blenco, Blenko, Blencko, Blanco and many more.

Early Notables of the Blincoe family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Henry Blencowe, High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1625; and Anne Blencowe, Lady Blencowe, née Wallis (1656-1718), an English compiler of recipes. It is generally thought that she developed an early version of what is now named a "stock cube" or "bouillon cube." She called her recipes "receipts" and were kept in the library of her daughter Susanna Jennens at Weston Hall. The house passed through the female line until the book was discovered by Georgia Sitwell who arranged for the book to be published in 1925...
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blincoe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blincoe migration to the United States +

The New World was far from the oppressive regime of the old country. It was a place where there was more land than people and political and religious freedom were far easier to come by. Many Scots even got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. In recent years, interest in this heritage has been generated by Clan societies and regular highland games in North America. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Blincoe name:

Blincoe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Blincoe, aged 25, who landed in America from Lancashire, in 1892

Blincoe Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Frank H. Blincoe, aged 24, who settled in America, in 1919
William Blincoe, aged 40, who immigrated to the United States, in 1922
Wilbert Edward Blincoe, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1923

Blincoe 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:

Blincoe Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Francis Blincoe, aged 45, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
Ann Blincoe, aged 38, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
Ann Blincoe, aged 16, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
Sarah Blincoe, aged 13, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
Francis Blincoe, aged 11, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Blincoe (post 1700) +

John Blincoe (b. 1952), former New Zealand politician who represented Nelson (1990 to 1996)
Robert Blincoe (1792-1860), English author and former child labourer, inbspiration of The Lion written in five weekly episodes early 1828 which in turn inspired the government to investigate the cotton mills
Adrian Blincoe (b. 1979), New Zealand middle distance runner at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games
Nicholas Blincoe (b. 1965), English author, critic and screenwriter

The Blincoe 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: Quorsum vivere mori
Motto Translation: Wherefore live to die.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.