Blathwayt

Blathwayt is an English surname with historical associations to Wiltshire and the surrounding region. The name appears in records dating to the early modern period and is most often linked with families who owned land and held local offices in the southwest of England. In historical contexts, Blathwayt often denotes a lineage rather than a single place or institution.

The most widely cited figure bearing the name is William Blathwayt (1659–1742), a British civil servant and colonial administrator of the late Stuart and early Hanoverian eras. He held senior posts in the English government and played a significant role in the administration of English colonies in North America and the Caribbean. His career and writings are frequently referenced in studies of imperial governance and administrative practice during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

A substantial collection of documents associated with the Blathwayt family, known as the Blathwayt Papers, provides historians with material on colonial administration, diplomacy, and genealogical matters of the period. These manuscripts illuminate aspects of policy, bureaucratic procedures, and the networks that connected England with its overseas possessions.

Today, Blathwayt remains a relatively uncommon surname. It appears in genealogical and local historical contexts, often in connection with Wiltshire estates and regional archives. The name continues to be of interest to researchers tracing early modern English governance, landholding patterns, and family histories.