Origins Available:
English
,
French
The Blond family's name is derived from the ancient Norman culture that was established in Britain following the
Norman Conquest of island in 1066. Their name originated with an early member who was a person with blond hair having derived from the Anglo-Norman French word
blunt, which means
blond.
Early Origins of the Blond family
The surname Blond was first found in
Suffolk where the Blounts or Blunts, as they are more modernly called, trace their heritage to the
Normans, specifically to Rudolph, Count of Guisnes, who nobly assisted Duke William of
Normandy to conquer the
Saxons at Hastings, in 1066. Sir Robert de Blount (c.1029-1066) had command of the Conqueror's ships during the invasion and was amply rewarded. Sir William, his brother, commanded his foot soldiers at Hastings.
These two great nobles received lands in Suffolk, Sir Robert became Baron of Ixworth, Lord of Orford Castle, and Sir William got seven lordships at Saxlingham in the county of Sussex. Each of these branches flourished and there is a record of each succeeding Baron in each estate. Both are recorded in the Domesday Book with their various properties.
John de Blund or Blunt (c. 1175-1248), Chancellor of York, was one of the leaders of the movement for the restoration of the university of Oxford to its ancient position as a seat of learning. He was Archbishop of Canterbury-elect in 1232. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Later, Robert de Houton was rector of the church of St. Elphin, Warrington, Lancashire and was confirmed the 3rd of April 1330. [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
Early History of the Blond family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blond research.
Another 197 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1640, 1400, 1403, 1493, 1502, 1540, 1597, 1666, 1617, 1563, 1606, 1654, 1693, 1618, 1679, 1565, 1632, 1529, 1597, 1594, 1654, 1624, 1654, 1693, 1601, 1604, 1618, 1679, 1649, 1697, 1670, 1731, 1580 and 1563 are included under the topic Early Blond History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Blond Spelling Variations
Before English spelling was standardized a few
hundred years ago,
spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Blond include Blount, Blunt, Blond, Blonde, Blund and others.
Early Notables of the Blond family (pre 1700)
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Blount (d. 1400), supporter of Richard II; Sir Walter Blount (died 1403), soldier and supporter of John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster), served as the royal standard bearer, mistaken for the king and killed in combat, appears as a character in Shakespeare's play Henry IV, part 1; Sir James Blount (d. 1493), English commander of the fortress of Hammes; Elizabeth Blount (1502-1540), mistress of Henry VIII; Mountjoy Blount, 1st Earl of Newport
(c. 1597-1666), created
Baron Mountjoy in the Irish peerage (1617); Charles Blount (1563-1606), English Earl of Devonshire; Charles Blount...
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blond Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Blond family to Ireland
Some of the Blond family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 45 words (3 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 Blond family to the New World and Oceana
In
England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Blonds to arrive on North American shores:
Blond Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Martin Blond, who settled in Philadelphia in 1860
Contemporary Notables of the name Blond (post 1700)
- Ben Blond, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Austin, Texas, 1977 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - J. B. Le Blond, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives, 1857-58, 1861 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Louis-Vincent-Joseph Le Blond, de Saint-Hilaire, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 [5]CITATION[CLOSE]
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, September 9) Louis-Vincent-Joseph Blond. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
The Blond 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: Lux Tua, via mea
Motto Translation: Thy light is my way.
Blond Family Crest Products
Related Stories
Citations
- ^ Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- ^ 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
- ^ The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- ^ The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- ^ Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, September 9) Louis-Vincent-Joseph Blond. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html