Show ContentsBlachford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Blachford 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 Blachford family

The surname Blachford was first found in Dorset and the Isle of Wight, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Blachford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blachford research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1695 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Blachford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blachford 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 Blachford include Blachford, Blatchford and others.

Early Notables of the Blachford family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • William Blachford, Lord Mayor of London in 1750

Migration of the Blachford 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: Stephen Blatchford who arrived in Philadelphia in 1826; Reverend Samuel Blatchford of Devonport in Devonshire, settled in Lansingburgh New York in 1795.


Contemporary Notables of the name Blachford (post 1700) +

  • John Blachford, Lord Mayor of London in 1750
  • William Blachford (1730-1773), Irish librarian of Marsh's Library, Dublin, father of the poetess Mary Tighe
  • Cecil W. Blachford (1880-1965), Canadian professional ice hockey forward, member of Stanley Cup-winning teams in 1903, 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1910


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