Surname Blackall - Meaning and Origin

Blackall: What does the surname Blackall mean?

The last name Blackall is derived from a place name in Devon, England. Originally it was spelled 'Blacall' from the Old English words 'blaec' meaning 'black' and 'halh' meaning 'nook'. The name was likely used to describe a locality that had a distinct blackness about it, either because of an abundance of trees or because of the composition of the soil. It is also possible that the name was given to someone with a dark complexion.

Blackall is a locational English surname, which means that it was most likely that its first bearer was someone who moved away from the original place, carried the name with them and began to use it to refer to both themselves and their family. In the Middle Ages, names composed of purely locational elements were quite common, and were given to people as a way to easily trace their origins and distinguish families from the same town or village.

The Blackall surname can be found all over the world today, especially in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and England. It continues to be a popular surname and is thought to have evolved into many forms and spellings including Blackell, Blaxall, Blackwall, and Blackall. When researching the history of the Blackall surname, it is important to keep in mind that similar sounding names may be linked to other places of origin.

Blackall: Where does the name Blackall come from?

The last name Blackall is predominantly found in English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia.

In the United Kingdom, the largest numbers of Blackalls are found in the Midlands and Southwest regions, particularly in the counties of Wiltshire, Somerset, and Dorset. Blackalls have been associated with the region since the late 18th century, when records indicate the surname had become established there.

During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, many Blackalls migrated to the United States and Canada but there also remains a large concentration of the surname in the United Kingdom today.

In the United States, Blackalls are found in many states, particularly in Maine, California, and Texas. In Canada, the highest concentrations are found in Ontario and British Columbia.

In Australia, Blackalls are found mainly in New South Wales and Victoria and have been present in the region since 1838.

Overall, the last name Blackall is still fairly common, particularly in English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Blackall

The surname Blackall is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Bháin, meaning “son of the fair foreigner”. The following variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Blackall can be identified:

Variants

• Blackall

• Blackhall

• Blackhall

• Blackwall

Spellings

• Mac Giolla Bháin

• McIlvene

• McCaelvene

• McIlvain

• McIlven

• McElven

• MacIlveen

• McIlveen

• MacGiollbhaithin

Surnames of the same origin

• Black

• Blackey

• Blackwell

• Blackwill

• Blaylock

• Blacoe

• Blakeley

• Blackwood

• Blakely

• Blackman

• Blackburn

• Blayney

• Blackwood

• Blacker

• Blackmore

• Blackaller

• Blacketer

• Blackester

• Blackerer

• Blackeiest

• Blacka.

Famous people with the name Blackall

• Edward Blackall: He was an English botanist, zoologist, and artist born in the mid-1800s. He was the first to describe the macaque monkey, as well as a number of other species of mammals, birds and reptiles including the black-faced tanager.
• Emma Blackall: She is an Australian Olympic silver medalist in rowing from the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She also served as from Australia's delegate to the International Rowing Federation (FISA), the governing body of worldwide rowing.
• Michael Blackall: He was an influential Australian novelist, playwright, and journalist. He was also a founding member of the Australian Society of Authors.
• Arthur Blackall: He was an English organist and composer of mainly vocal and choral works. He also wrote many hymns, including some that are still in common usage today.
• Barry Blackall: He was an English-born Australian poet, playwright, and writer. He is best known for his plays, which often centered on social issues such as poverty and religious strife, as well as for his novels.
• Lester Blackall: He was an Australian First World War veteran, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery on the battlefield. He was a member of the 4th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force.
• Marjorie Blackall: She was an Australian novelist, biographer, and short story writer. Her best-known works include the autobiographical novel, "Miner's Wife," and the biographical novel, "Fair Exchange: Being a Portrait of the Life of Lord William Russell."
• Stephen Blackall: He was an Australian politician, who represented the Liberal Party in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia for 21 years. He was also a former leader of the Party.
• David Blackall: He is an Australian rugby league footballer who played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League. He was also a former captain of the team.
• Jo-Anne Blackall: She is a British athlete, coach, and entrepreneur. She represented Great Britain in the 1992 Winter Olympics, and competed for England in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She later became an coach and entrepreneur, and has won several awards for her work in sport.

Other surnames

BlackabyBlackadarBlackadderBlackader