An ancient Strathclyde-Briton family from the Scottish/English Borderlands were the first to use the name Blakewoyd. They lived in
Ayrshire, but interestingly, the name Blakewoyd may also be derived from the Old English words
blaec, which means
black, and
wudu, which means
wood, and indicates that the original bearer lived near a dark, wooded area.
Early Origins of the Blakewoyd family
The surname Blakewoyd was first found in
Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of
Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North
Ayrshire, where they held a
family seat from ancient times.
Early History of the Blakewoyd family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blakewoyd research.
Another 371 words (26 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1384, 1500, 1797 and are included under the topic Early Blakewoyd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Blakewoyd Spelling Variations
Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few
hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language.
Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Blakewoyd has been spelled Blackwood, Blackwode, Blakewood, Blaikwood, Blackewood and many more.
Early Notables of the Blakewoyd family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Blakewoyd Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Blakewoyd family to Ireland
Some of the Blakewoyd family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 147 words (10 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 Blakewoyd family to the New World and Oceana
For Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American
War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them: the Blackwoods who settled in Swain's Island, Newfoundland, and moved to the mainland to Bona Vista Bay in the early 19th century; Ebenezer Blackwood settled in Bona Vista in 1826.
The Blakewoyd 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: Per vias rectas
Motto Translation: By right ways.