Blaw

Recorded as Blaw, Blow, Blowes, Blows, Blower, and Blowers, this is an English surname. It is of medieval origins and an occupational name for someone who operated a bellows. This was most probably in connection with an ironworks, although a horn blower is another possibility, such as a huntsman or a player of the musical instrument. The name is derived from the Olde English pre 7th century word "blawere", to blow. The surname development since 1199 includes: examples such as Lucia Blowere, a witness in the Assize Rolls of Kent, and Reginald le Blawere in the Tax Subsidy Rolls of Essex in 1327. Recorded in the London church registers are the christening of Edward, son of James and Martha Blowers, on September 1st 1661 at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, and the marriage of Thomas Blaw and Jannet Richie at St Martins in the Field, Westminster, on October 11th 1759. A coat of arms granted to the family has the blazon of a gold shield, charged with a two headed eagle displayed. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William le Blowerre. This was dated 1199, in the "Pipe Rolls of Surrey", during the reign of King Richard 1st, known as "Lionheart", 1189-1199. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.