The name Blakellay dates back to the days of the
Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name derives from the
Anglo-Saxon Blæcleah which meant "dark wood" or "dark clearing". The hamlet of Blackley was mentioned in the
Domesday Book and little growth of the community was seen until the 19th century. By the middle of the 17th century Blackley was a village of just 107 inhabitants. Today Blackley is a suburb of Manchester with a population of over 10,000 people. There is also a hamlet named Blackey in West
Yorkshire.
Early Origins of the Blakellay family
The surname Blakellay was first found in
Lancashire where they held a
family seat from very ancient times, some say before the
Norman Conquest in 1066. Blakesley Hall is a Tudor hall on Blakesley Road in Yardley, Birmingham,
England. Originally a timber-framed farmhouse, it was built in 1590.
Early History of the Blakellay family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blakellay research.
Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1321 and are included under the topic Early Blakellay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Blakellay Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few
hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early
Anglo-Saxon surnames like Blakellay are characterized by many
spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Blakellay include: Blackley, Blakely, Blakley, Blacklee, Blackely, Blackledge, Blacklege, Blatchly and many more.
Early Notables of the Blakellay family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Blakellay Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Blakellay family to Ireland
Some of the Blakellay family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 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 Blakellay family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Blakellay or a variant listed above: Thomas Blackley who settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1635; Samuel Blackley who settled in New Haven, Connecticut and married Hannah Porter in 1650. He also lived at Guildford. He had three sons and two daughters. David Blakely settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767.
Blakellay Family Crest Products
See Also