Recorded as Blanden, Blandon, Blunden, Blandin, Blanding, Blaning, Blannin, Blanning, Blunning and possibly others, this is an English surname. It is locational and probably from a 'lost' medieval village called Blunden, which is believed to have been situated in Oxfordshire although there are other claimants. Some five thousand surnames of the British Isles are believed to originate from 'lost' villages and even small towns, so whilst they are still unusual, new examples of which this is probably one, are found on a regular basis during surname research. What many people find surprising is the variation in spelling from (say) Blunden to Blanning. However it must be born in mind that five or more centuries may have elapsed since the original village was deserted for whatever reason, and thoughout most of that period almost upto the 20th century education at best was rudimentary and local accents very thick. Also people moved around looking for work, and may have moved between countries adding to the likelihood of tranposed spellings. Examples of recordings in the surviving registers of the city of London include Henry Blandon at St Botolphs Bishopgate in 1567, John Blanding at the same church in 1767, and Nathaniel Blanning at St Leonards Shoreditch in 1783.

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