Blindell, for Blundell.
Blizard, Blizart. Perhaps from Blesum, Blois, meaning a native of Blois. The name is evidently foreign. Blizzard, Blizard, Blezard, Blizart, Blissett. Even the best authorities have differed as to the origin of this name. One English writer says: "Perhaps it is from Blesum, Blois, meaning a native of Blois" (Blizzard, which is Norman, is an analogous form). Another and later English authority says: "Blizard, Blezard, from the Danish Blichert, a strong sword player." A correspondent of the New York Tribune, July 19, 1891, says: "The old English word blizzard, which describes so picturesquely the English snow-blast, is spoken of as an 'Americanism.' Even such philologists and lexicographers as Murray treat the word as a recent 'Americanism.' So far from its being American in origin, it was not till within the last thirty years (according to Bartlett and other American philologists) that the word was ever heard in the Eastern States, and in the Western a 'blizzard' meant a knock-down blow—not from a snow-blast, but in an argument."
In reality, Blizzard is an old English surname, and is doubtless of Norman origin. In April, 1889, the writer of this note conversed with a Federal soldier, whose full name was Stephen Decatur Blizzard. He was of Anglo-Virginian stock; he was a soldier in the Civil War, and his name may still be found on the National Pension Rolls of that date. His postal address in 1889 was "Quincy, Lewis County, Kentucky."
Possibly the "snow-blast" took its name from some windy Anglo-Norman disputant, who wielded the sword of the spirit and dealt in apostolic blows and knocks.
The word "blizzard" does not appear in Worcester's dictionary, edition 1860. It is evidently of Scandinavian origin (Danish or Norman).
Blockey. The French pronunciation of Bloquet or Ploquet. Vide Denman.
Blomefield. Vide Bloomfield. Blomfield, bishop of London.
Bloomfield, armorially identified with Blomville from the lordship so named near Caen and Toques. Thomas de Blumville had custody of the estates of Earl Bigod in Suffolk.
Blossett. The Blossetts of Normandy were barons of Beneval and Vidames.
Blount. Le Blund, or Blundus, Normandy, 1180. Frequent notices of the name, Twelfth Century, in Essex.