This very interesting name is believed to be a development in East Anglia of the Old Norse-Viking 'Bleas' - a word meaning 'to dye' - as in cloth. This is probable as the name also occurs as 'Blayster' which means one who strips bark, a commodity used in the dyeing process. The name also appears as, Blayes (Sarah Blayes c. 1781, Westhorpe), Blazar (Mary Blazar 1835, Darsham) and Blazea (Anne Blazea 1813, Westleton) although William Blayes is recorded in London in 1633. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Sarah Blaza which was dated 1835 Belton during the reign of King William IV The Sailor King 1830-1837. 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.