Blankenship History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The surname Blankenship is a habitational name from the village of Blenkinsop in Northumberland, about one mile from Greenhead. The ancient manor of Blenkinsop was held by the Blenkinsop family from the 13th century when they created a substantial tower house. A licence to build the manor was granted on May 6, 1340. A survey of 1541 reported the roof to be in decay and the tower not to be in good repair. Despite the poor repair, the family lived there for another two centuries but by 1832, the property was in disuse. About 1877 William Blenkinsop Coulson did a major restoration project which created a large mansion house but then sold the premises a few years later. A major fire in 1954 resulted in demolition of much of the estate. Today the home is still used but only portions thereof.

Early Origins of the Blankenship family

The surname Blankenship was first found in Northumberland, at Blenkinsopp, a township, in the parish and union of Haltwhistle, W. division of Tindale ward. "This has long been the property of the Blenkinsopp family. In 1399 'Thomas de Blencansopp' had a license to fortify his mansion: it occurs in the list of border castles about 1416." 1 "The castle there was the seat of the family, a race well remembered for their border feuds in olden times and designated as 'a right ancient and generous family.' " 2

It is generally understood that the family "trace their descent from Richard Blenkinsoppe, grandson of a certain Ranulfus who held the manor of Blenkinsopp in 1240." 3 Other early records of the family include: Antony Blencansop and Ranulf de Blenkenshope who were listed about the same time c. 1240. 4

Spelling variations of the name were very numerous. Nearby Yorkshire lists Symon de Blanchainesop, de Blancaneshop, de Blenkensope about the same time. 5

Early History of the Blankenship family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blankenship research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blankenship History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blankenship Spelling Variations

Although the name, Blankenship, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Blenkinsopp, Blenkinsop, Blinkinsopp, Blinkinsop, Blankensop, Blankensopp, Blinkinsops, Blenkinship, Blenkinshipp, Blenkenship, Blenkenshipp, Blenkinshop, Blenkinshopp and many more.

Early Notables of the Blankenship family

More information is included under the topic Early Blankenship Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blankenship Ranking

In the United States, the name Blankenship is the 615^th most popular surname with an estimated 47,253 people with that name. 6

Blankenship migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Blankenship family name Blankenship, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Blankenship Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Annie Blankenship, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893

Blankenship Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Miss G. Blankenship, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
John Blankenship, aged 38, who settled in America, in 1911
Robert Blankenship, aged 18, who landed in America, in 1914
Virginia Blankenship, aged 47, who immigrated to America, in 1920
William Blankenship, aged 32, who landed in America, in 1924
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Blankenship (post 1700) +

William Leonard Blankenship (1928-2017), American operatic tenor and music pedagogue
G. T. Blankenship (b. 1928), American lawyer and Republican politician, 10th Attorney General of Oklahoma
Josh Blankenship (b. 1980), American football coach and former player
Donald D. Blankenship, American Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Geophysics at the Jackson School of Geosciences, eponym of the Blankenship Glacier, Antarctica
Beau Blankenship (b. 1990), American football running back
Gregory Allen Blankenship (1954-1976), former American NFL football linebacker who played in 1976, inducted into the California State University, East Bay Athletics Hall of Fame
Clifford Douglas "Cliff" Blankenship (1880-1956), American Major League Baseball player who played from 1905 to 1909
Brian Blankenship (b. 1963), American NFL football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-1991)
Homer "Si" Blankenship (1902-1974), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played fron 1922 to 1928
Tom Blankenship, American bass guitarist for the Kentucky band My Morning Jacket
... (Another 31 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Blankenship family +

USS Arizona

Mr. Theron Andrew Blankenship, American Seaman First Class from Alabama, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 7

The Blankenship 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: Dieu defende le droit
Motto Translation: God defends the right.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html