Blakemore History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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The name Blakemore is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in the area of Blackmore. Early members lived near one of two places named Blakmore, a parish in the diocese of Winchester, and a parish in the diocese of St. Albans. The place-name is derived from the Old English words blaec, meaning black, and mor, meaning marsh, and would have been used to name a settlement near a dark marsh. Another source notes the name could have meant ‘dweller by the dark mere’ from the Old English 'blæc' + 'mere', from the Old English 'blæc,' and the Middle English 'Mor' ‘a Moor’.1

Early Origins of the Blakemore family

The surname Blakemore was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Blachemer was recorded in Shropshire (Salop.) 2 Years later, William de Blakemere was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275 and later, Kateryna de Blakemere was registered in Herefordshire in 1296. 1

Baldwin de Blakomor was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Devon in 1200, as was Nicholas de Blakemore in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1307. 1

Early Norfolk records show William Blakhommore, Norwich, 1398; and William de Blachomor, Norwich, 4 Richard II (during the fourth year of the reign of Richard II.) 3

In Somerset, Margery de Blakemor was recorded there 1 Edward III (in the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Richard de Blakemore, Oxfordshire; and (Prior) de Blakemore, Essex. 5

"The Blackmores are now numerous in Honiton and its neighbourhood, There is (or was) an epitaph in the Middle Temple church to Mark Blackmore, son of Mark Blackmore, of Harpford, in the county of Devon, gent. (Dugdale's "Orig. Jur. "), which cannot bear a later date than the early part of the 17th century. A family of the name lived in Exmouth last century: in 1746 Mr. Blackmore "leaded ye tower;" and in 1771 and 1811 William and John Blackmore were clerks of Exmouth Chapel (Webb) Blackmore and Blackmoor are places in Essex, Wilts, and other counties. Blakemore is now a Shropshire surname. Blakema and De Blakemor were surnames in Bucks, Oxon, and Essex six centuries ago." 6

Early History of the Blakemore family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blakemore research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1654, 1684, 1720 and 1729 are included under the topic Early Blakemore History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blakemore Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Blakemore has been spelled many different ways, including Blakemore, Blackmore, Blackamore, Blackmere and others.

Early Notables of the Blakemore family

Notables of the family at this time include

Richard Blakemore, High Sheriff of Hereford

Blakemore Ranking

In the United States, the name Blakemore is the 8,592^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Blakemore migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Blakemores to arrive in North America:

Blakemore Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Isaac, Francis, Henry, Thomas and William Blakemore, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1830 and 1870
Chas. Blakemore, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1893
Emma Blakemore, aged 25, who settled in America from West Bromwick, in 1894

Blakemore Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Henry Thomas Blakemore, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Wednesbury, England, in 1908
Frederick Blakemore, aged 27, who immigrated to America from West Bromwich, England, in 1910
Constance Irene Blakemore, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Coventry, England, in 1912
Frances Blakemore, aged 22, who landed in America from Wolverhampton, England, in 1914
George Blakemore, aged 47, who landed in America from Sydney, Australia, in 1915
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Blakemore migration to Australia +

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

Blakemore Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Ann Blakemore, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1839 8
Elizabeth Blakemore, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1839 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Blakemore (post 1700) +

Kittie Blakemore (1928-1929), American basketball coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers women's basketball team (1973-1992)
Paul R. Blakemore, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Oregon State University
Michael Howell Blakemore OBE, AO (1928-2023), Australian actor, writer and Associate Director of the National Theatre, winner of Tony Awards for Best Director of a Play and Musical in 2000
Sir Colin Blakemore FRS, FMedSci, HonFRCP, HonFRSM, FRSB, FBPhS (1944-2022), British neurobiologist, specializing in vision and the development of the brain, Yeung Kin Man Professor of Neuroscience and Senior Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study
Stella Blakemore (1906-1991), South African author
Bourke Blakemore Hickenlooper (1896-1971), American Republican politician, Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, 1939-43; Governor of Iowa, 1943-45; U.S. Senator from Iowa, 1945-69 9

The Blakemore 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: Pro Deo
Motto Translation: For God.