Blacklock

This unusual name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and derives from a nickname for someone with very dark hair. The derivation is from the Old English pre 7th Century word 'blaec', meaning 'black, dark', with 'locc', (lock of) hair, and although, interestingly, 'blaec' could mean either 'dark' or 'pale, fair', in this instance the most probable meaning has to be 'dark hair' since there is a directly contrasting surname existing from the same era as 'Whit(e)lock'. The surname developments has included Adam Blakelok (1332, Cumberland) and Robert Blaykeloc (1431, Yorkshire). The modern name can be found as 'Blakelock', 'Blacklock' and 'Blaiklock', and occurs mainly in the North of England. The marriage of John Blaiklock and Sarah Morley was recorded at Holborn, London, on April 11th 1711. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Peter Blacloke, which was dated 1275, in the Wiltshire 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.