Blande History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestry of the name Blande dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived at Bland in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Probably "an Anglo-Saxon personal name with the usual local suffix dropped. [cp. Old English blandan, to blend; and the derived blanden-feax, 'having mixed-coloured or grey hair.'] " 1

However, "the adjective bland, mild, gentle is, I think or insufficient antiquity to be the etymon. The Blands of Kippax, at a very early period, resided at and gave name to Bland's Gill, co. York " 2

"This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Bland,' one of the four hamlets of which the town of Sedburgh (Yorkshire) is comprised. It is not a complimentary nickname, but distinctly local." 3

"The Blands of Kippax, at a very early period, resided at and gave name to Bland's Gill, co. York." 2

Early Origins of the Blande family

The surname Blande was first found in at Bland or Bland's Gill in the chapel of How Gill and the parish of Sedburg in Yorkshire. One reference claims that name came from the hamlet of Blond. The earliest mention of the name was in 1132 where Richard, son of Hugh Bland of Disford was listed as benefactor relating to the Abbey of Foundations. 4

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johannes de Bland; Adam de Bland; Matilda Bland, 1379; and Wymerk de Bland. 3

Early History of the Blande family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blande research. Another 176 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1555, 1563, 1604, 1614, 1629, 1642, 1653, 1657, 1662, 1663, 1664, 1665, 1668, 1671, 1681, 1686, 1691, 1693, 1700, 1712, 1713, 1715, 1720, 1727, 1743, 1756, 1763, 1928 and 1950 are included under the topic Early Blande History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blande Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Blande have been found, including Bland, Blands and others.

Early Notables of the Blande family

Notables of the family at this time include John Bland (died 12 July 1555) English Protestant clergyman and martyr, rector of Adesham, burnt at the stake; Sir Thomas Bland, 1st Baronet of Kippax Park (1614-1657); Sir Francis Bland, 2nd Baronet of Kippax Park (1642-1663); Sir Thomas Bland, 3rd Baronet of Kippax Park (1662-1668); Sir John Bland, 4th Baronet of Kippax Park (1663-1715); and Sir John Bland, 5th Baronet of Kippax Park (1691-1743), Member of Parliament for Lancashire (1713-1727.) Tobias Bland (1563?-1604), English divine, born in or about 1563, matriculated as a sizar of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge. Elizabeth Bland...
Another 98 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blande Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Blande family to Ireland

Some of the Blande family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 89 words (6 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 Blande family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Blande, or a variant listed above: John Bland who settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts in 1641; he married Joanna by whom he had two daughters; Anne Bland settled in Barbados in 1682; Edward Bland settled in Virginia in 1635.

The Blande 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: Sperate et virite fortes
Motto Translation: Hope and live boldly.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)