Contents [hide]

Blake History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies South Africa

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Blake History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Blake

What does the name Blake mean?

There art two possible origins of the Irish surname Blake. The first is that it originated from the Gaelic "O Blathmhaic," which translates as "descendant of Blathmhac," a personal name for the Gaelic "blath" meaning "flower", "blossom", "fame", "prosperity." The second was that the name could have been derived from the Old English word "blaec" meaning "dark" or "swarthy."

Early Origins of the Blake family

The surname Blake was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), where the Blake family were one of the Tribes of Galway, descending from Richard Caddell (le Blac), sheriff of Connacht in 1303, who came to Ireland with Prince John in 1185, and used both the surnames Caddell and Blake. 1

The name Caddell is Welsh, and means "warlike." It was not replaced completely by Blake until the 17th century, and for three hundred years, people with these surnames were referred to in municipal records by both names.

"The Blakes of Ireland descend from Richard Blake, who accompanied Prince John to that country in 1185, and settled in co. Galway." 2 Richard Caddle was sheriff of Connaught in 1306 A.D. and was a tenant of Falway under Richard de Burgo (Burke), the Red Earl of Ulster.

Early History of the Blake family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blake research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1708, 1738, 1745, 1774, 1780, 1797, 1818 and 1849 are included under the topic Early Blake History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blake Spelling Variations

Names during the Middle Ages were often recorded under several different spelling variations during the life of their bearers. Literacy was rare at that time and so how a person's name was recorded was decided by the individual scribe. Variations of the name Blake include Blake, Caddell, Caddle and others.

Early Notables of the Blake family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Sir Francis Blake (1708-1780), 1st Baronet, mathematician, descended from the house of Menlough, co. Galway. His father, Robert Blake, by his marriage with Sarah, third daughter of his kinsman, Sir Fr...

Blake World Ranking

In the United States, the name Blake is the 403^rd most popular surname with an estimated 69,636 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Blake is ranked the 680^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,661 people with that name. 4 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Blake is the 290^th popular surname with an estimated 155 people with that name. 5 Australia ranks Blake as 244^th with 14,101 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Blake as 305^th with 1,995 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Blake as 275^th with 22,056 people. 8

Blake migration to the United States +

Many destitute Irish families in the 18th and 19th centuries decided to leave their homeland, which had in many ways been scarred by English colonial rule. One of the most frequent destinations for these families was North America where it was possible for an Irish family to own their own parcel of land. Many of the early settlers did find land awaiting them in British North America, or even later in America, but for the majority of immigrants that arrived as a result of the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s the ownership of land was often a long way off. These Irish people were initially put to work on such industrial projects as the building of bridges, canals, and railroads, or they worked at manufacturing positions within factories. Whenever they arrived, the Irish made enormous contributions to the infant nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the earliest immigrants to bearer the name of Blake were found through extensive research of immigration and passenger lists:

Blake Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Walter Blake, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Swan" 9
William Blake who came from Essex, England, sailed on the "Mary and John" in 1630 and settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts
Francis Blake, aged 18, who landed in Virginia in 1635 9
Mr. John Blake, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 aboard the ship "Friendship" 10
Walter Blake, who landed in Virginia in 1637 aboard the ship "Tristram and Jane" 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Blake Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Charles Blake, who landed in Virginia in 1702 9
Robert Blake, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 9
Cha Blake, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 9
Jane Blake, who arrived in New England in 1740 9
William Blake, who arrived in America in 1765 9

Blake Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Blake, who settled in Middletown, Connecticut
Ellen Blake, aged 35, who landed in America in 1822 9
Daniel Blake, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1827 9
Matthew Blake, who landed in Maine in 1829 9
Arthur Middleton Blake, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1835 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Blake Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Philip Blake, (b. 1881), aged 24, Cornish machinist, travelling aboard the ship "Saint Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Connecticut, USA 11

Blake migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Blake Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Blake, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
William Blake, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
John Blake, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Iona Blake, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750

Blake Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Philip Blake, from Wexford, Ireland was married in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1804 12
Thomas Blake, a planter of Herring Neck, Newfoundland in 1820 12
Theophilus Blake, who landed in Canada in 1831
John Blake, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Thomas Hanford" from Cork, Ireland
Ellen Blake, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Providence" from Cork, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Blake migration to Australia +

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

Blake Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Blake, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 13
Miss Ann Blake, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Stephen Blake, (Steven), Irish convict who was convicted in County Tipperary, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boyd" on 10th March 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Miss Eleanor Blake, (b. 1788), aged 24, English servant who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1850 16
Mr. Samuel Blake (b. 1787), aged 44, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 4th August 1817, sentenced for 14 years for stealing woollen, transported aboard the ship "Globe" in September 1818 to Australia 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Blake migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Blake Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Richard Blake, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Richard Blake, aged 25, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
Elizabeth Matilda Blake, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
Richard Blake, aged 2, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
George Blake, aged 38, a grocer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Slains Castle" in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Blake migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 18

Blake Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Thomas Blake, who settled in Barbados in 1680 with his wife and servants
Henry Blake, who landed in Barbados in 1682 9

Blake Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century

Bryan Blake, who landed in Antigua (Antego) in 1801 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Blake (post 1700) +

James Hubert "Eubie" Blake (1887-1983), American composer, lyricist, and pianist of ragtime, jazz, and popular music and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Virginia Alice Blake (1899-1964), née Branch, American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
Winfield Blake (1868-1932), American actor, comedian, bass, lyricist, playwright, theatre director and producer, talent manager, and costume designer, son of oil business magnate Isaac E. Blake, founder of the Continental Oil Company (later re-named Conoco) in Denver in 1875
Alan Richard Blake (1957-2024), American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Vladimir Petrov
Betty TackaBerry "Tack" Blake (1920-2015), American last surviving member of the first training class (Class 43-W-1 at Sweetwater, Texas, on April 24, 1943) of the Women Airforce Service Pilots paramilitary aviation service
Robert Blake (1933-2023), born Michael James Gubitosi, an American actor known for his roles in the 1967 film In Cold Blood, the 1970s U.S. television series Baretta and as a child actor in Our Gang
Stewart Prestley Blake (1914-2021), American restaurateur. He was a co-founder of the Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, "Friendly's"
John Patrick Blake (1961-2020), American head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1996 to 1998
Robert Orris Blake (1921-2015), American diplomat, United States Ambassador to Mali from 1970 to 1973
Michael Lennox Blake (1945-2015), American Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winning author, best known for the film adaptation of his novel Dances with Wolves
... (Another 17 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Blake family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. John Shaldis Blake (1921-1941), Australian Acting Leading Stoker from Malvern, South Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 19

HMS Hood

Mr. Harold G Blake (b. 1909), English Leading Stoker serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Leslie John Blake, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21

HMS Repulse

Mr. William L Blake, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 22

HMS Royal Oak

Maurice Blake, British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 23

RMS Titanic

Mr. Percival Albert Blake, aged 22, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 15 24
Mr. Seaton Blake (d. 1912), aged 26, English Mess Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24
Mr. Thomas Henry Blake (d. 1912), aged 36, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24

SS Atlantic

Mr. George Blake, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Mr. Thomas Blake, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Mr. William Blake, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. James Monroe Blake, American Fireman Second Class from Missouri, 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 25

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyd
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Emu
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html