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Show ContentsBleech History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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As a name, Bleech was often interchangeable with Black in early times. Both names are thought to be derived from Old English words such as "bloec" or "blac," which meant "black," or from the Old English "blac," which surprisingly could mean "pale." Early forms of the surname Black have existed in Britain since the 10th century. 1 2 3 4

Early Origins of the Bleech family

The surname Bleech was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from very ancient times, and Walter le Blake was recorded in the Pipe Rolls for the region in 1167. However some of the family moved far north to Twizell in Northumberland, about 10 miles from Berwick. "Twizell Castle, a fine though unfinished castellated mansion of the Blakes, is seated on a rocky precipice, surrounded by extremely picturesque scenery; and near it is Tillmouth House, the present residence of the family." 5

"Blake is a south of England name, found most frequently in Wiltshire, Cornwall, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire. Amongst the old established Wiltshire families I may refer to that of Blake, which is at present best represented around Chippenham. There were Blakes in Warminster in the reign of Elizabeth, and they are still to be found there, and the name has been represented in Ludgershall since the beginning of the 17th century. An influential family of this name owned Pinhill House in Calne in the 17th century." 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Hamo le Blake in Buckinghamshire; Reginald le Blake in Cambridgeshire; Reyner le Blake in Norfolk; and Edericke le Blacke in Lincolnshire. 1

Kirby's Quest lists: "William le Blake, Somerset, 1 Edward III." 7 (William le Blake helds lands in Somerset during the first year's reign of Edward III.)

Further to the north in Scotland, early records there revealed Luce Blake was tenant of land in Waldefgate, Berwick, c. 1266 and Atkyn Blake was a charter witness in Ayr c. 1340. 8

Early History of the Bleech family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bleech research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1185, 1219, 1266, 1273, 1340, 1536, 1559, 1597, 1598, 1599, 1608, 1627, 1643, 1657, 1694, 1695, 1698, 1700, 1701, 1702, 1709, 1757, 1765, 1772, 1774, 1780, 1827 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bleech History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bleech 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 Bleech has appeared include Blake, Blaik and others.

Early Notables of the Bleech family

Distinguished members of the family include Admiral Robert Blake (1559-1657), born in Bridgewater, considered the greatest English admiral after Nelson; Thomas Blake (c.1597-1657), an English clergyman and controversialist; Robert Blake (1598-1657), one of the most important military commanders of the Commonwealth of England, one of the most famous...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bleech Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Bleech family to Ireland

Some of the Bleech family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 142 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 Bleech 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 Bleech arrived in North America very early: William Blake who came from Essex, England, sailed on the "Mary and John" in 1630 and settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Abigail Blake, who was a child sent from hospital in England to Virginia in 1633.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  7. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  8. 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)
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