The Blodgett (de Blogate) name is of Norman origin and although ancestors did not come to England with William the Conqueror, they probably followed during the 100-150 year period thereafter. The name is analogous with Colgate, Westgate, Highgate, etc. The "gate" suffix means a pass through the mountains, the "blo" is less certain, and could mean (1) blowy or Windy, (2) a contraction for belleau, the French word for beautiful. Hence, for Blogate, one can derive (1) a blowy or windy pass through the mountains, or (2) a beautiful pass through the mountain. Perhaps both. Names originally designated a person living in the locale described.
The Blodgett name is not entitled to a coat of arms. None is registered in the College of Heraldry, London, England. Blodgetts' of this day were of the artisan-merchant class. The last four generations prior to immigration to America were glove makers, innkeepers, and farmers. (I) Argent three bugle horns sable, or stringed. This is as close as there is to an ancient Blodgett coat of arms; apparently having been used when occasionally a daughter married into the nobility. (II) Per pale ermine and erminois an elephant rampant gules. In chief three flours de Lys azure. Crest: A coronet, Motto: Semper Paratus. (See Bolton, American Armory p-17, taken from a watercolor given to the New England Historic Genealogical Society by Mrs. William Blodgett, Chestnut Hill, Mass.) Origin of this before the watercolor is unknown. Indications are it is of comparative recent origin but has been used by at least one branch of the American family. Several other coats of arms are designated and sold as Blodgett coat of arms by commercial firms.
At least one source (Holms) lists Robert Bloet as the original occurence of the name Blodgett in England. Robert Bloet was Chancellor of England circa 1088-1094 under King William II Rufus, and later second Bishop of Lincoln. He died 10th of Jan. 1123 suddenly, while riding with the king in a deer-fold near Woodstock.
An unknown de Blogate, born about 1170, died about 1210, left a widow, Rose, who about 1248, sold land in Athelington to her son Hugh de Blogate. Hugh sold it to a brother Richard. This property became the subject of a lawsuit claiming that Rose only had dower rights and could not dispose of the property. This litigation lasted three generations and in 1272 involved Matilda and Philip, children of Hugh, and in 1323, Richard, son of Philip.
Hugh de Blogate 1272-1330 Suffolk, England probably had as a wife, Hawys de Blogate. Their son Richard married a daughter of Robert de Thorpe, Lord of Westthorpe in Norfolk, & Beatrix de Hengrave. These are the first definite instances of the family. Richard's eldest son Geoffrey de Blogate, left extensive estates to his only daughter Joan, who married Sir Ralph de Hemenhale. The de Blogate estates eventually reverted to John de Blogate, a great grandson of Richard de Blogate, and a grand nephew of Geoffrey, above. In 1428 John de Blogate became Lord of Westthorpe in Norfolk, inheriting several of the ancient de Blogate lands in Suffolk. Another John de Blogate of Yaxley, Suffolk, quartered the Blodgett coat of arms (I) mentioned above at the marriage of his daughter Jane to John Herbert of Yaxley. This John's descendants rose to prominence in Suffolk by the time of Elizabeth I and married into the peerage. An Edmond de Blogate, gentleman of Stowlangtoft, Suffolk died circa 1523, but it is recorded his daughter Elizabeth married James Noon of Norfolk.
The de Blogate, Blowgate, Blogget, Blodgett ancestors of Thomas, the immigrant, lived in the western part of County Suffolk, at Stowmarket and Haughley, villages about two miles apart and 10-12 miles northwest of Lpswich. Thomas, the immigrant, was the great grandson of Thomas Blogate (Blodgett) of Haughley born about 1490, died in 1560. This Thomas Blogate could be a son, grandson or nephew of the foregoing, but the relationship, is not established. His will provides he be buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's in Hawley and makes his son, Robert, executor of his will. Robert died in 1602 leaving a will and his son, Robert II, father of Thomas, the immigrant, moved from Naughley to Stowmarket 17 May 1597. Robert II died in 1625 at Stowmarket.
The Blodgett family in America, so far as records and history establish it, is of English origin. Back of the English generations there is room for much conjecture. Some researchers claim French-Norman descent, and point out that one Robert Bloct (Blojet or Bloyet) a Norman bishop, in the service of William the Conqueror, came to England and was appointed Bishop of Lincoln, was the first known of the name in England. Others claim that the first of the name in England was among the Huguenots driven out of France by Louis XIV; and still others, that the name originated from the Italian Blognetti family, one of whom came to England with the Roman Legions.
And again in France: - Records in the town of Quimper in the Department of Finisterre, France, set forth that Baron Blogget whose title bore date of 1247, died there in the year 1780.
In England there are definite records of the Blodgett name as Follows: - In the "Visitations of Norfolk", p. 1563, 1589, 1613, "When the daughter and heir of Richard Blogget in the County of Suffolk, Gent, married John Hebard of Yaxley-Yaxley, 1561, the Blogget arms were Quartered with those of the Will of William Pepperill of St. Stephens by Launceston in the County of Cornwall, June 5, 1655, Witness was "Nevil Blighett."
Thomas Blodgett, born in England in 1605, emigrated to America in 1635 and was the founder of the entire Blodgett family in America.