Show ContentsBlackshere History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Blackshere first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in the village of Blackall in Devon, or one of numerous other minor locations of the same name. The place-name is derived from black hall, which indicated a manor, which was dark in color or in a dark area.

Early Origins of the Blackshere family

The surname Blackshere was first found in Devon, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Blackhall can be found "in the regality of Garioch, Aberdeenshire. William de Blackhall who appears on a jury of inquest retouring William de Tullidaff of Lentush and Rothmaise heir of his father in 1398 is apparently the first of the name recorded. " 1

Early History of the Blackshere family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blackshere research. Another 193 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1420, 1499, 1547, 1655, 1667, 1690, 1694, 1708, 1716, 1760, 1763, 1770 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Blackshere History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blackshere Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Blackshere has appeared include Blackhall, Blackall, Blakhall, Blaikhall and many more.

Early Notables of the Blackshere family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Offspring Blackall (bap. 1655-1716), Bishop of Exeter (1708-1716.) He "did not come into public notice until he was a middle-aged man, and of his early years little is known. He was born in London, and in due time became a member of St. Catharine's Hall, Cambridge, where, it may be presumed, he lived a strictly religious life, for he is mentioned as one of the intimate college friends of the saintly James Bonnell,who chose none but the godly for his companions. In 1690...
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blackshere Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Blackshere family to Ireland

Some of the Blackshere family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Blackshere family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Blackshere arrived in North America very early: Agnes Blackhall, aged 26; who settled in New York in 1774.


Contemporary Notables of the name Blackshere (post 1700) +

  • Margaret Blackshere, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008; Member of Democratic National Committee from Illinois, 2004-08 2


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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