Surname Jex-Blake - Meaning and Origin
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Jex-Blake: What does the surname Jex-Blake mean?
The last name Jex-Blake originates from the county of Norfolk in England. It is an Anglo-Saxon surname which was first found during the Norman Conquest of England. The name is derived from two distinct sources. The first part of the name, Jex, is a patronymic name deriving from the personal name Jack or Jacques, popular in medieval England. The second part of the name, Blake, comes from a topographical name for someone who lived near a patch of land covered with the rock blac, which is dark colored stone.
The surname Jex-Blake can be dated back to the 11th century, when it was found as "Jax," a name which appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 C.E. Since then, the name has taken many subtle variations and sporadically been found throughout England. In terms of character, the name Jex-Blake is associated with determination, ambition, and a need to succeed. People with this last name are believed to be strong, independent, and hardworking.
Today, the name Jex-Blake is carried by people in many countries around the world. It is most common in England, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Whether spelling variations like Jex, Blake, or Jex-Blake, this Anglo-Saxon name is sure to continue to be found for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisJex-Blake: Where does the name Jex-Blake come from?
The surname Jex-Blake is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. The last name is derived from an ancient Anglo-Saxon occupational term, meaning "leading man." It is often found in particular in counties in Eastern and Central England where the old English language was spoken. In some cases, the last name Jex-Blake may be related to an area where an individual of the surname lived and worked.
The surname is quite rare and was mostly used by the gentry or lords of manors. For example, the Jex-Blake family of Hackney, London, was a significant and influential family dating back to the 1500s. The earliest records of the family relate to them being lords of the manor of Hackney. The family also owned many large estates and parcels of land in the area.
Today, the surname Jex-Blake is largely confined to the UK. There are some individuals of the last name found in Canada and the United States, but they are comparatively few in number. The occasional Feng shui name reading of the Jex-Blake name can be found in some areas of Asia as well.
Variations of the surname Jex-Blake
The surname Jex-Blake has multiple variants and spellings with both long and short version of the surname found.
Common alternate spellings for Jex-Blake include Jex Blake, Jex-Blake, Jexblake, Jex Blayke and Jex Blaike. The shortened version of the surname is typically written as Jex, or Jeex.
Variants of Jex-Blake include Jex-Blayke, Jex-Blaike, Jex Blakey, Jex Blate, Jex-Blay, Jex-Blue and Jex-Bloke.
Jex-Blake is widely found in Australia and many of the variants can be found in both British as well as Irish records.
Common surnames of the same origin include Jeseph, Jesop, Jesopp, Jesoppe, Jayson, Jexson, Jaycob, Jeacock, Jeacocks and Jaxon.
The Welsh form of the surname is Jex-Blythe or Jex bleeth.
Whether spelled Jex-Blake or one of its variants, this surname is steeped in a rich and diverse history. Its three-part structure reflects the fact that many of its earliest variants are Norman French, indicating a long connection to their European roots.
Famous people with the name Jex-Blake
- Emily Jex-Blake: a prominent figure in the fight for women’s rights in the nineteenth century. She was the first woman to practice medicine in Scotland and the first woman to graduate from a British University.
- Diana Jex-Blake: a biologist/zoologist best known for her work on jellyfish. She wrote a book called The Life of the Jellyfish, which was widely acclaimed.
- Tuppeny Jex-Blake: a twentieth century mountaineer, explorer, and author. He was a member of the Alpine Club and was noted for his involvement in one of the British Everest expeditions in the 1920s.
- Gerald Jex-Blake: an English lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament for North Derbyshire from 1925 to 1932. He was also a prominent member of the Quaker community.
- Thomas Jex-Blake: an eighteenth century English naval officer. He fought in the Battle of the Nile and was praised for his “galantry and good conduct”.
- Rupert Jex-Blake: a British politician who served as Member of Parliament for York from 1885 to 1892. He was also a prominent legal scholar and editor.
- Elizabeth Jex-Blake: an eminent nineteenth century British photographer. She was among the first women to be involved in professional photography and was recognized for her landscape and portrait photography.
- Ralph Jex-Blake: an English philosopher and writer from the late eighteenth century. He was noted for his work in educational reform, and for his contributions in the fields of logic and ethics.
- Mary Jex-Blake: a Welsh painter of the early twentieth century. She was a notable member of the Newlyn School of Art, a group of modern British artists.
- Clement Jex-Blake: a British Anglican priest who served as Prebendary of Wells, Archdeacon of Northampton, and Vicar of St. Swithun’s. He was also noted for his work in theological education.