Blenkinsop History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The surname Blenkinsop 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 Blenkinsop family

The surname Blenkinsop 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 Blenkinsop family

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

Blenkinsop Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Blenkinsop occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Blenkinsopp, Blenkinsop, Blinkinsopp, Blinkinsop, Blankensop, Blankensopp, Blinkinsops, Blenkinship, Blenkinshipp, Blenkenship, Blenkenshipp, Blenkinshop, Blenkinshopp and many more.

Early Notables of the Blenkinsop family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

John Blenkinsopp of Sheriff Hutton
George Thomas Leaton Blenkinsopp

Blenkinsop migration to Canada +

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 illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Blenkinsop, or a spelling variation of the surname include:

Blenkinsop Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Blenkinsop, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774

Blenkinsop migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Blenkinsop Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Robert Blenkinsop, English convict from Northumberland, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Blenkinsop (post 1700) +

William Blenkinsop (1819-1892), American (Irish born) Catholic priest, pastor of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, Boston (1864-1892)
Peter Blenkinsop, American (Irish born), Catholic publisher, who emigrated with his family from Dublin to Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A., in 1826
Yvonne Blenkinsop (1938-2022), British campaigner to improve safety in the offshore fishing industry following the 1968 Hull triple trawler tragedy, third woman in 130 years to be awarded the freedom of the city of Hull in 2018
Edward Weyman "Teddy" Blenkinsop (b. 1945), Canadian RAF pilot, shot down over Belgium, awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Belgian Croix de Guerre
Arthur Blenkinsop, British politician, Member of the UK Parliament

The Blenkinsop 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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821