Blaorthay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
An ancient Strathclyde-Briton family from the Scottish/English Borderlands were the first to use the name Blaorthay. It is a name for a happy or cheerful person. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word blithe, which described a person exhibiting the aforementioned characteristics.
Early Origins of the Blaorthay family
The surname Blaorthay was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland. Blyth was an old barony in the lordship of Lauderdale some time ago.
The first on record was of William de Blyth of Chirnesyde in Berwickshire who represented the family and rendered homage to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296.
A few years later, the seal of Adam de Blyth was appended to an account of goods purchased at Perth in 1302. James Blyth was burgess of Dundy (Dundee) in 1485. 
Further south in England, Blythe, Lancashire has an interesting history. It was originally held by Geoffrey Travers, whose son Henry, was called "de Blythe." Henry de Blythe's descendants "John and Robert de Blythe occur among the names of subscribers to the stipend of a chaplain at Ormskirk in 1366 and the latter also in the Poll Tax Roll of 1381. John de Blythe attested Scarisbrick charters in 1399 and 1401, and was the father of Roger, who in 1397 was charged with breaking into the parsonage house at Crossens. From him descended Roger Blythe, whose daughter and heir Margaret by her marriage with John Blakelache (or Blackledge) conveyed the estate to this family. " 
Another source notes, William de Blithe was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Oxfordshire and Willelmus de Blythe was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 
Early History of the Blaorthay family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blaorthay research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1603, 1567, 1567, 1563, 1646, 1691, 1485, 1493, 1493, 1499, 1530, 1503, 1530, 1542, 1605, 1654 and 1883 are included under the topic Early Blaorthay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Blaorthay Spelling Variations
Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Blaorthay has been spelled Blythe, Bllyt, Blytht, Blyithe, Blith, Blyth, Blitht and many more.
Early Notables of the Blaorthay family (pre 1700)
Notable amongst the family at this time was Richard Blyth, who represented Dundee in Parliament in 1567; Cuthbert Blyth, who was burgess of Edinburgh in 1563; Robert Blyth, who was retoured heir in land of Brounslope, Berwickshire, in 1646; Archibald Blyth, who appears as a baxter in Dysart in 1691; John Blyth (or John Blythe), Archdeacon of Richmond...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blaorthay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Blaorthay family to Ireland
Some of the Blaorthay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Blaorthay family
The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them: John Blyth who settled in Virginia in 1652 with his wife Mary; Sarah Blyth arrived in Jamaica in 1774 with her husband John; Anne, George, John, Margaret, Samuel Blythe all settled in Charleston Massachusetts in 1820..
Related Stories +
- ^ Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- ^ 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
- ^ Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)