Blackford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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England

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The Anglo-Saxon name Blackford comes from when the family resided in one of two places called Blackford, both in the county of Somerset. One was a parish near Wincanton, while the other was a chapelry in the parish of Wedmore, near Axbridge. The name is derived from black ford, indicating a dark place in which there was a river crossing.

Early Origins of the Blackford family

The surname Blackford was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Blackford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blackford research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1700 is included under the topic Early Blackford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blackford 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 Blackford include Blackford, Blackforde, Blakeford, Blakford and others.

Early Notables of the Blackford family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir Robert Blackford of Eden Place

Blackford Ranking

In the United States, the name Blackford is the 6,242^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Blackford migration to the United States +

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:

Blackford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

George Blackford who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1635 and was strongly involved in the development of Barnstable and Cape Cod
Mary Blackford, who arrived in Virginia in 1649 2
William Blackford, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 2

Blackford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Blackford, who landed in America in 1765 2

Blackford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Blackford, aged 29, who arrived in Michigan in 1854 2
Harold Blackford, aged 18, who immigrated to America from Hereford, in 1894
E. G. Blackford, aged 48, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895

Blackford Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Florence Blackford, aged 32, who landed in America, in 1903
Harold Blackford, aged 10, who landed in America from Limerick, in 1904
Jilla Blackford, aged 39, who landed in America from London, in 1905
James Blackford, aged 44, who settled in America from Birmingham, England, in 1908
Horace Victor Blackford, aged 23, who landed in America from Stratford, England, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Blackford migration to Australia +

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

Blackford Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Benjamin Blackford, British convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 3
Mr. William Blackford, (b. 1823), aged 17, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Mr. Walter Blackford, (b. 1821), aged 22, English farmer who was convicted in Worcestershire, England for 7 years for stealing transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1897 5
Mr. Walter Blackford, British Convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 20 years, transported aboard the "Dudbrook" on 17th November 1852, arriving in Western Australia 6
John Blackford, aged 38, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Thetis" 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Blackford (post 1700) +

Steven Allen Blackford (1977-2004), American three-time NCAA All-American and two-time Pac-10 Champion wrestler for Arizona State University
Charles Minor Blackford (1833-1903), American lawyer and author of American Civil War stories
Isaac N Blackford (1786-1859), American jurist and politician, justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1817-1852)
Vivien Blackford, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut, 2008 8
Peggy Blackford (b. 1942), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau, 1995 8
Isaac Newton Blackford (1786-1859), American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Indiana, 1824; Candidate for Governor of Indiana, 1825; Candidate for U.S. Senator from Indiana, 1825, 1826 8
Frank F. Blackford, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1912 8
F. R. Blackford, American politician, Mayor of Charleston, Illinois, 1935 8
Ann L. Blackford, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 2008 8
Richard Blackford (b. 1954), English composer
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)