Blaber

This unusual and intriguing name is of early medieval English origin, and is one of a large group of early surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of a nickname. In this instance the nickname was given to someone thought to be a chatterer, a "babbler", derived from the Middle English "blaber, blabber", from the verb "blaberen". Medieval nicknames were bestowed with a wide variety of reference; physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, fancied resemblance to an animals or bird's appearance or disposition, habits of dress, or occupation. Many nicknames surviving as modern surnames may seem unnecessarily forthright, but habitual usage presumable dulled the edge. The development of the surname, found mainly in the South Eastern Counties, includes Blabar (1557), Balbur (1619), Blabor (1628) and Blabber (1630) all of these in Sussex. The marriage of Roger Blaber and Frances Sergent was recorded at Willingdon, Sussex, on April 16th 1592. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Blaber, which was dated 1273, in the Norfolk Hundred Rolls, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.