This ancient surname recorded in the spellings of Blackall, Blackhall, Blakehall, and Blackaller, is of Olde English pre 7th century, and Scottish origins. The English nameholders originate from several places called Blackhall as far apart as Cumberland and Worcestershire. In all cases the place names, and the subsequent surnames derive from "blaec" meaning "black" plus "halh", a house or meeting place. The literal translation is a "house in a dark place". The surname is first recorded in the early half of the 13th Century, (see below), and early recordings include Ralph de Blackhale in the 1332 Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland, and Richard de la Blackhall, in the Curia Regis rolls of King Richard 11, 1377 - 1399. The name spelling as Blackhall is widespread in Scotland, again it is locational, and derives from the lands so named in Garioch, Aberdeenshire. An example from this source is William de Blackhall, recorded on an inquest jury in 1398. The spelling form as Blackaller refers to a person of Blackall, in other words one who lives at Blackhall. A similar example is the surname Brooker, one who lives at a brook. Thomas Blackaller was recorded at St Leonards church, Shoreditch, London, On October 24th 1794. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Blakehall, which was dated 1221, in the Assize Court Rolls of Worcestershire, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as the Frenchman, 1216 - 1272. 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.