Blazeby

A Norse-Viking pre 8th Century locational name which translates as 'Blesi's farmstead. The derivation is from 'Blesi', a personal name meaning 'one with white hair' and 'by or byr' - a farmstead. Early recordings of the name are rare, probably because of the remoteness of the early locations in Lincolnshire. Variant spellings are:- Bleasby, Blazeby, Blesby and Blesbie, The Coat of Arms being Silver, charged with an engrailed fesse, between three Knights spurs - all black. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Nicholas Blesbie. which was dated C. 1588, of Blesbie, Co.Lincoln. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603. 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.