Blake
/bleɪk/
proper noun
Origin
Old English
blæc or blāc — black/dark or pale/bright
Overview
Meaning Now
- A surname of Old English origin, derived from nicknames describing hair or complexion.
- A given name, popular in English-speaking regions.
Literal older meaning
pale, fair, or dark, black
Language path
Old English → Middle English → Modern English
Earliest form
Blac
Earliest period
12th century
Journey
The surname Blake is a classic example of an 'antonym' origin in onomastics. Because the Old English words 'blæc' (black) and 'blāc' (pale) were phonetically similar and their written forms merged as English orthography evolved, the surname can historically refer to either a person with a very dark complexion/hair or a person with a very fair complexion.
Evolution
- Old English
blæc
“black or dark-complexioned”
Used as a descriptor for dark hair or skin.
- Old English
blāc
“pale, fair, or shining”
Used as a descriptor for light complexion or hair.
- Middle English
Blake
“fair or dark”
Spelling convergence caused the two distinct terms to merge.
- Modern English
Blake
“surname/given name”
Stabilized as a hereditary name.
Connections
Word parts
Blake
root
pale or dark
Related across languages
Old Norse
bleikr
pale/whitish
Explore next
Related to Blake
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.