Surname Blenkin - Meaning and Origin
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Blenkin: What does the surname Blenkin mean?
The last name Blenkin is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It comes from a group of ancient Germanic tribes who settled in modern-day Britain during the 5th and 6th centuries, who would eventually become known as the Anglo-Saxons. It is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century personal name 'Blenca', from the word 'blaenc', meaning 'pale', which may refer to someone with a particular skin tone.
It is thought that the surname could also be from a survival of a diminutive form of a Middle English personal name such as 'Blanc', which means 'white'.
Today, many people with the last name Blenkin are likely descended from a single ancestor. Some examples include prosperous English families who were resident in various parts of the country during its heyday. However, the name is most strongly associated with the northern county of Lancashire in northwestern England - one of the original 'seven kingdoms'.
The name is now quite rare - so if you do have the last name Blenkin, then you can still take pride in being the descendant of a name that can be traced back hundreds of years.
Order DNA origin analysisBlenkin: Where does the name Blenkin come from?
The last name Blenkin is quite an uncommon name today, with most references to it being found in countries and regions where British and Irish immigrants settled. For instance, Blenkins are most commonly found in the UK and in its former colonies including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Within the UK, Blenkin is more common in the North West and Midlands regions, including Lancashire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire, and in the southern counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.
The origin of the name is likely to be from the personal name Blanche. Blanche is derived from the Old French word blanc meaning "white," and the name was popular among medieval English royalty and nobility. Blanche and Blanchekin were commonly used to create surnames such as Blenkin.
The Blenkin name can be found almost exclusively in these countries today, indicating a long and steady line of immigration from the United Kingdom and the British Isles from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Migration to the United States and Canada from the UK began to increase again from the late 20th century onwards, and it is possible that the name may spread into other countries in the future.
Variations of the surname Blenkin
The surname Blenkin is of English origin and is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Blencal, which is derived from the Old Germanic name, Bendecal. Common variants of the name include Blenk, Bendecal, Blencale, Blincal, Blinck, Blinco, Blinckin, Blenking, Blandecal, Blonk, and Blonkop.
In some cases, the surname is also spelled Blenkyn, Blenkinsop, Brendecal, Blynken, Blynkin, Blynkins, and Blenkinney. These spellings are derived from the Old English form of the name, and may have been changed to sound similar to other names in the area to help the family blend in better.
The surname also appears as a patronymic form, where the name is passed down from a father or ancestor. In some cases, it has become a matronymic form, meaning that the surname has been passed down through a mother or female ancestor instead. In these cases, Blenkin variants may appear as Blendecke, Blenke, Blynkensteen, Blynkesteyn, and Blenckestein.
The variants of Blenkin are not only limited to names and spellings used in England, but may also be found with slight variations in other countries. Blenkina is a variation in Western Russia, Blonq is a variant used in the Basque region of Northern Spain, and Blenckson is a variant used in South Africa.
It is important to keep in mind that the variations of Blenkin may also be used as surnames in their own right, with spellings that reflect different cultures, regions, and even languages.
Famous people with the name Blenkin
- Susanna Blenkin: British actress well known for her theatre performances.
- Will Blenkin: British billionaire investor and philanthropist, best known for his work with venture capital firms.
- David Blenkin: British-born television producer and executive, best known for his work on the television comedy show Have I Got News For You.
- Stephen Blenkin: English musician and songwriter, primarily known as a member of the band Inspiral Carpets.
- Eric Blenkin: British actor and comedian, best known for his roles in The Vicar of Dibley and Grandma's House.
- John Blenkin: English landscape painter and etcher, best known for his English countryside landscapes.
- Claire Blenkin: British actress and director, best known for her work in theatre, and for her videos appearing in London and Edinburgh film festivals.
- Vicki Blenkin: British entrepreneur and businesswoman, best known for her work as a director at Barclays Bank and her own business, Pure Blenkin.
- Simon Blenkin: British entrepreneur and founder of Blenkin & Co, a family-owned investment and innovation consultancy.
- Fred Blenkin: English historian and archaeologist, best known for his work on the settlement of the English on the Irish coast.