Surname Blackmer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Blackmer: What does the surname Blackmer mean?
The surname Blackmer is of English origin, notably from the regions of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to derive from "Blackmere," a location-based name signifying someone who lived near a "black lake" or a "dark lake." This name combines the Old English elements 'blaec,' meaning 'black' or 'very dark,' and 'mere,' meaning 'lake.' These kinds of geographical or topographical surnames were often given to those who lived near notable physical features, such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees. So in essence, a Blackmer is someone from or near a "black lake." Like many surnames that started from a local reference point and specific geographical location, the name would often persist even when families moved to different areas. Hence, the distribution of the Blackmer surname in different geographical locations.
Order DNA origin analysisBlackmer: Where does the name Blackmer come from?
The surname Blackmer is of English origin. It is believed to be derived from the Old English term "Blaecmere", where "blaec" means black and "mere" refers to a pool or a lake. Thus, the term could potentially denote someone who lived near a black lake or pool. It could also be an occupational surname for a blacksmith, from the Middle English term "black", meaning black, and "smyth", meaning a metal worker or blacksmith.
As per distribution, the surname Blackmer isn't quite common; it's more unique and rare. The surname is primarily found in North America, particularly in the United States. Information from the Forebears website suggests that the most Blackmers reside in the United States, followed by Canada and then Australia. In the United States, it is particularly prevalent in the northeastern states. However, in terms of density, the highest number of Blackmers relative to population is in Vermont. Regardless, it is relatively infrequently used, even in these areas.
Variations of the surname Blackmer
The surname Blackmer is said to be of English origin. Over the years, it has been spelled multiple ways, often changing due to misspellings or variations in phonetic transcription.
The name Blackmer might find its roots in the term “blackmere," which refers to a black lake or pond, indicating a possible geographical origin of families living near such a place.
Some of the alternate spellings and variations of this surname are Blackmore, Blackmoor, Blakemore, Blakemere, and Blakemoor, to name a few. Each of these variations could be influenced by the phonetics of the local dialect, a person's literacy level, or simply personal preference for the spelling.
Standardization of spelling didn't really come into play until modern times, which is why there are so many variations of older, familial names. Furthermore, variations of the surname can also occur due to translation or transliteration into other languages.
As with most surnames, Blackmer and its variants could potentially intertwine with others due to marriage, leading to hybrid or double-barreled surnames like Blackmer-Smith or Blackmer-Jones.
Famous people with the name Blackmer
- Sidney Blackmer: Was a prolific American actor, best known for his role as Roman Castevet in the 1968 film "Rosemary's Baby." During his career spanning over six decades, he had appeared in over 100 movies and numerous TV shows and stage productions.
- Jonathan Blackmer: He is an American lawyer who served as the legal counsel of the Republican National Committee. He is also known for his work in environmental law.
- Suzanne Kaaren Blackmer: An American film actress, mostly appearing in B-movies in the 1930s and 1940s, including 'The Devil Bat' (1940) with Bela Lugosi. She was the wife of Sidney Blackmer. It's important to note that Blackmer is not a very common surname and is not widely shared by famous personalities.