Page 4 - 3rdPub1

The Blaker Society © The very earliest entry that we have for the surname le Blakiere in

Origins

Winchester, Hampshire, is from about 1250, at the same time that
witnesses are found with their surname Latinized as ‘tinctor’ — painter
or stainer. In Chippenham we find (1312–1313) a Roger le Blakkere also
1
written as Roger le Blecchere: and elsewhere in England there are le
Blaker &c. entries; but with the Sussex Blakers we have yet to find a
trustworthy le Blaker entry.
Our earliest genuine Sussex Blaker entry is William Blaker
assessed at 2s 10½d in the lay subsidy for the township of Cuckfield in
2
1327 . Most of the surnames given there are prefixed by ‘de’, ‘ate’ or
‘le’: the only exceptions are Hervest, Goldyng, Blaker and Bygge. None
of these is occupational.
There is a long list of taxpayers in the 1296 return, which is a
combined one for Cuckfield and Hurstpierpoint; moreover, a careful look
at the 1296 return shows that it also included entries from Slaugham, and
perhaps elsewhere . This would explain why the 1296 tax (an 11th)
3

1 Sessional Papers: Members of Parliament. Return (in part) To an Order of the House of Lords, dated
13th July 1877, for: ... Return, from so remote a Period as it can be obtained up to the Year 1696, of
the Surnames, Christian Names, and Titles of all Members of the Lower House of Parliament of
England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the Name of the Constituency represented, and Date of Return of
each. Part I. Parliaments of England, 1213–1702. Ordered to be printed 11th August 1879, 1879,
London, 41, 42, 45:
Summoned to meet at Westminster, 18 March 1312–13.
Chippenham Borough:
Johannes le Chipman.
Rogerus le Blakkere.
Summoned to meet at Westminster, 8 July 1313.
Chippenham Borough:
Edwardus le Smyth.
Rogerus le Blecchere.
Summoned to meet at Westminster, 23 September 1313.
Chippenham Borough:
Edwardus le Smyth.
Rogerus le Blackere.
2 Sussex Record Society x: The Three Earliest Subsidies for the County of Sussex in the Years 1296,
1327, 1332. With some Remarks on the Origin of Local Administration in the County through
“Borowes” or Tithings. Transcribed and Edited by The Rev. William Hudson, M.A., F.S.A., 1909,
London, p. 177
Taxatio xx Domino Regi Edwardo tercio a conquestu concesse facta per Will’m de Northo & Joh’m
me
atte See ad dictam xx in Com’ Sussex taxand’ coll’ assingnatos Anno eiusd’ D’ni Regis Primo
am
finiente Incipiente secundo.
Taxation of a twelfth granted to the lord king Edward the third from the Conquest, by William de
Northo and John atte See assigned to tax and collect the said twentieth in county Sussex, in the first
year ending, second year beginning of the same lord king.
VILLATA DE COKEFELD.
3 Sussex Record Society x: The Three Earliest Subsidies for the County of Sussex in the Years 1296,
1327, 1332. With some Remarks on the Origin of Local Administration in the County through
“Borowes” or Tithings. Transcribed and Edited by The Rev. William Hudson, M.A., F.S.A., 1909,
London, p. 46:
UNDECIMA DE COMITATU SUSSEX ANNO REGNI REGIS EDWARDI XXIIIJ TO.