This genealogy of my family and related families is permanently under construction and is subject to frequent updates. Visit again ! Click here for Dutch text - Nederlandse tekst.
Dr. Frans Debrabandere writes in his "Etymological Dictionary of the Surnames in Belgium and North France" following on the Blondia type surname:
Blondeel, -el(le), de Blondel, Blundell, Blandel, Blondeau(x),-a, -i(e)au(x), Blondia, Blontia, Blandeau, -a(ux),-iaux: from "blond", haircolor. 1245 Petrus Blondiaus, Compiegne; 1264 Aelis li Blondele, Atrecht; 1398 Gille Blondel, Willaume Blondel, Jehan Blondiel, Jehanne Blondelle, Moeskroen.
All these names, and many others, refer to a haircolor. The Blondia name is a name change from Blondiau or Blondeau. Blondeau is actually "King's French" where Blondiau is the French variant as used in Picardy. Both names may have had their origin in the Tournai-Mons region in Hainaut.
Pieter Blondiau showed up in Ursel, East-Flanders, Belgium about 1691 on a deathcertificate for his first (?) wife Petronella Van Hulle. He apparently marries again but not in Ursel.. His first child is born in 1693, Pieter's name was written "Blommendale", obvious mistake but corrected on the death certificate for the girl in 1694. We see a gradual name change in the parish documents from Blondiau, Blondio to Blondia. All his descendants however carry the name Blondia.
Initially the Blondia family settled in Ursel and Aalter. They spread slowly during the 19th century into the neighboring communities. A phonetical error in an Aalter birth record resulted in the "Blontia" variant on Jan 10, 1861.
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First challenge is to find out were Pieter Blondia(u) (ABT 1647) and his father Ingels/Engels Blondia(u) (ABT 1620) came from. Pieter was married a first time with Petronella van Hulle who died in 1691 at age 58, leaving him with no children. Pieter married a second time, 6 weeks after Petronella passing away, with Joanna De Wilde (1667-1739). This marriage took place in Bellem, It is not known yet were Pieter married Petronella van Hulle, his first (?) wife. It is not listed in Ursel, Bellem nor Aalter. It is known that Petronella van Hulle married a first time with Joos Focket and had a daughter Magdaleena, presumably a minor in 1691. (Staat van Goed, Petronella Van Hulle, Ursel.)
Second challenge is to locate the descendants of the 20th century Blondia emigrants. Phillip and Marie Blondia emigrated to Michigan, Detroit from the Aalter area in Belgium. They had three children; Lillian, Philip Jr. and Robert.
Three brothers Alphonse, Rene and Victor Blondia emigrated to Mishawaka, St-Joseph, Indiana from Ursel, East-Flanders, Belgium. Mid century Achiel "Archie" Blondia emigrates to London, Ontario, Canada from Ursel, East-Flanders, Belgium.
Alfons "Blonde", Rene "Blondy" and Victor Blondia were found in the 1910 and 1920 Census of Indiana in the Portage township of South-Bend. (Mishawaka). I found multiple traces from these emigrants and their family in the shipregisters for New York and Canada.
Third challenge is to connect the North-French and Walloon Blondia name occurrences with the Belgian family members. It is however not clear yet how or if they connect to Pieter Blondia(u).
And last but not least, connect all living Blondia family members to their roots. If you are Blondia related, please let me know who your parents, grand parents and greatgrandparents were so that I can make the link to the available documents of the 19th century.
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Last update on MARCH 10, 1997
If you have additional information or wish to add links or pointers please contact me. Thank you!