Surname Blindell - Meaning and Origin
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Blindell: What does the surname Blindell mean?
The last name Blindell is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. The surname derives from the Old English word 'blund' which means 'a short piece of land, a small meadow or piece of pasture'. This may have referred to a place within a larger estate, or a homestead with some land attached. Alternatively, the surname may also be derived from the Old English word 'blynd', which means 'blind' - it is possible that this referred to a place owned by a blind person.
The first recorded mentions of the name Blindell dated back to 1273 with Bele Blundel in the Patent Rolls of East Riding in Yorkshire. Later mentions of the name in the 13th to 15th centuries described people from Suffolk and Wiltshire.
The spread of the Blindell name is geographically concentrated in England, with most families found in the home counties as well as Yorkshire and Hampshire. The last name is fairly rare, with only a small number of families bearing the name.
The Blindell name then spread across the world with emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries. Families bearing the name can now be found across Europe, Canada, and the United States.
The last name Blindell is a testament to the history of England and a reminder of the small enclaves of land that helped make up the history of England. It is a reminder that even small places have a story and a history.
Order DNA origin analysisBlindell: Where does the name Blindell come from?
The last name Blindell is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It is believed to have originated with a farming family living in the medieval village of Blundale, located in Essex, England. As of 2020, the most common concentrations of people with the last name Blindell are found in the South East of England, with significant numbers also living in the midlands and some migrating to nearby European countries such as France and Belgium.
As the name implies, the earliest known people with this surname were living near the English Channel and, as such, the surname Blindell is thought to come from an old English word meaning ‘blin’, meaning “blind” and ‘dell’, meaning “valley”. A large number of people with this surname can be found in and around London, including outer London boroughs like Bromley and Lewisham. The Blindell name has also been known to pop up in America, most notably in Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
The name Blindell is probably derived from a combination of Blundale and an English surname, which explains its prevalence among English populations. Its geographical dispersal and low frequency implies that its been around for a relatively short period of time. While the family could have moved from Blundale several centuries ago, the latest research shows that the Blindell surname emerged within the last few hundred years – which is not surprising given that many of the larger villages and towns in England and Wales slowly started to grow during this timeframe.
Variations of the surname Blindell
The surname Blindell is a hereditary name of English origin. Variant spellings of the name include Blindale, Blindale, Blindal, Blindal, Blindall, Blindall, Byrinall, and Brynall. All of these names have the same root, which is believed to be derived from the ancient English words "blinnan," meaning “to be blind” and “dael," or “dale”, meaning valley. This suggests the surname could have originated with a person identified with a valley where all the inhabitants were known for their blindness.
The Blindell surname is also spelled Brynall. This pronunciation is an example of metathesis, a process in which the order of two or more adjacent sounds in a word are switched. Hyphenated combinations of Brynall and Blindell are also known, such as Brynell-Blindell.
The Blindell family lived in the village of Buston, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Other variant family names associated with this village are Brynel, Blindale, Blindell, and Blindel. This suggests that these variations of the surname emerged separately in this small village.
The Blindell surname has also been found in other countries with English heritage such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. It is not known if the name was carried by immigrants as a part of their heritage, or if it developed later in response to the different linguistic influences in these places.
In records, the Blindell surname is most commonly found in the in the US states of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. It is also found in the Midwest region, particularly in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Famous people with the name Blindell
- Nick Blindell: Former professional soccer player from Manchester, England
- Max Blindell: Actor known for his roles in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and By Any Means
- June Blindell: British visual artist and sculptor
- Bienvenida al fondo Blindell: Musician from Ecuador
- Richard Blindell: Former NHL defenseman and coach
- Stephen Blindell: Noted British sculptor
- Dan Blindell: Professional photographer based in New Jersey
- David Blindell: Air force veteran and avid parachutist
- Raymond Blindell: Professional golfer
- William Blindell: Actor featured in the 2013 short film Cupid's Wrath