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origins
Whilst this name is generally accepted as being locational and deriving from residence at the 'Blaege-Forda' an Olde English name which refers to a small fresh water fish now more commonly known as a 'Gudgeon'. The name may also relate to the towns of Blandford, Blandford Forum or Blandford St. Mary in Dorset. However, it is also known that some modern 'Blandfords' are from a transposition of the Medieval French nickname 'Pleyn d' Amour' which was 'anglicized' originally as Blandamore, and then to Blandford. This translates as 'one ready for love!' The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry Blandeforde (A Monk). which was dated C. 1330 St. Albans Abbey, Hertford during the reign of King Edward III the Father of the Navy 1327-1377. 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.