Blacksell

This interesting and unusual name is a dialectual variant of the locational name Blaxhall a place so called in Suffolk. This is recorded in the Domesday Book as 'Blachessala' in 1270 (introduction to English placename) and derives from 'Blaec's halh', 'Blac(h)' a personal name is recorded in the Domesday Book circa 1086 and 'halh' is an Olde English pre 7th Century word for a corner, angle, or remote valley. In the North of England this word developed a specialized meaning, namely 'haugh', land in a corner formed by a bend in a river. One Doritha Blaxall was christened on 16th March 1560 at Hadleigh Suffolk. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam de Blakesale, which was dated 1308, in the Calender of Books Cambridge, 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.