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Evan Blayney (Ieuan or Jevan Blaene, Blayne or Blaynie) of Tregynon
born 1370 died 1430
Note: Welsh Ieuan is pronounced "Yey - ian", not "Ewan, Iwan or Yewun" [670] In 1406 Ieuan Blayney was 18th on the list of burgesses for the charter of Welshpool. He (or more probably another Ieuan Blayney) appears as a Forester for "Hirthowel" (Rhyddhywel on the Radnor Montgomery border) for 1392-3 [226] [but evidence points more to this Ievan Blayney being linked to Hoell BLAENE, ancestor of the Radnor/Evesham Blayneys].
Ieuan/Evan is the first recorded user of the "Blayney" name, and this is discussed below in the Why the surname change to Blayney? section
He married Elen Vychan, [born 1385 in Mathafarn (Powys), and died in 1440]. They had three sons, Owen (Owain) (b.1405), the eldest [72], from whom the Aberbechan Blayneys descend, Giffith (Gruffudd) (b.1407), from whom both the Blayney Lords and the Gregynog Blayneys descended and Howell (b.1411), from who Manafon and Ystumgwern (Stingwern) Blayneys descended. These sons of Evan were the subject of quite a few Welsh poets [570].
Owen had a son Morris, who had a son Rees, who had a daughter Elizabeth Blayney, who married John Price, Sheriff of Montgomeryshire and their daughter, Bridget Price married Lewis Blayney, brother of the 1st Lord [75].
See Evan's ancestry.
1 Evan (Ieuan) BLAYNEY + Ellen (Elen) (Vychan) ferch Llewelyn b.1385 Llangurig m.1406 d.1440 dau & heir of David ap Evan LLOYD ap Llewelyn ap Tudyr [76] and a descendant of Meredudd BENWYN on her mother's side [570]. 2 Owen (Owain) BLAYNEY b.1405 Ancestor of Aberbechan Blayneys and Prices Eulogized along with brother Gruffudd by the great 15th century Welsh poet Lewys Glyn Cothi as "foremost of men" (in Welsh, a play on the word "blaenion" meaning "foremost" [570]). [see Owen BLAYNEY] 2 Griffith (Gruffudd) BLAYNEY (BLAENE) b.1407 Left, according to custom, in possession of the paternal mansion by older brother Owen. [229] Ancestor of the Gregynog line (including the Irish Lords). Described by the poet Lewys Glynn Cothi as a "stag of gentle birth". + Joned (Jonas) HOWELL aka Gwynllian (Gwenthlean) ferch Howel ap Meredydd Vychan [Meredith Vaughan] of Maesmawr (Maesmais) in Arwystli. b~1410 3 Margred (Margaret) + ?Dafydd ap Hywel ab Owain + Ieuan ap Gruffydd ap Jenkin [496] 3 Evan Lloyd (Ieuan/Ifan Llwyd ap Gruffudd) BLAYNEY of Gregynog. b.1450 Esquire of the body to Henry VII and Steward of the manors of Kerry (Ceri), Cedewain, Arwystli and Cyfeiliog as well as Constable of Montgomery Castle. [71] +(1)(Jane) Katherine (Catherine/Catrin) ferch Meredith ap Rees/Rhys (PRICE) b.~1505 1st wife of Evan Lloyd BLAYNEY Her father, Meredith (Maredudd) ap Rees, was Constable of Montgomery Castle, Steward of Kerry and Esquire of the Body of King Henry VII. 4 Thomas ap Evan Lloyd (alias BLAYNEY) of Llandinam b.1475; will dated 1651 +(1)Gwenthlean (Gwenllian) HERLE b~1522 (dau of Thomas HERLE b.1503 and Jane PERROT b~1510, descended from King Henry I) "the moon of Tregynon" [poem by Huw Arwystl [570]]. 1st wife of Thomas BLAYNEY 5 Margaret BLAYNEY [707] [see below] + Richard Phelipps of Garnest 5 Mary BLAYNEY [707] [see below] 5 Florence BLAYNEY + Evan (or Jenkyn [707]) ap Maurice 5 David Lloyd BLAYNEY (Dafydd Llwyd Blaenau) b.1523; d.1595 Father of Edward, the 1st Lord BLAYNEY as well as Lewis, Thomas (x2) & many more (q.v.). Inherited Gregynog from Thomas. In 1581 he purchased about 180 acres in Allt Ucha (Berriew) [571] His mother was Gwenllian HERLE NOT Mary, sister of Edward HERBERT as incorrectly listed in the Tregynon Church, however Edward Herbert's sister Margaret was David Lloyd's step-mother. [226] See history and descendants of: David Lloyd BLAYNEY 5 Morus (Maurice, Moris) ap Thomas alias BLAYNEY Inherited lands & tenements in Manafon & Llanllugan and a cornmill called Melyndwris (Melin-Dwyrhiw) above New Mills. + Catrin ferch Dafydd ("Catharine" ferch John ap David ap Morris ap Owen ap Jenkyn Blayne [707]) 6 Elizabeth BLAYNEY 6 Thomas ap Morus (Morris) BLAYNEY + Jane ferch Richard ap John Philip ap Meredith [71] [226] (Jane ferch Rys ap Jenkyn ap Philip ap Meredyth [707]) 7 James ap Thomas Morris 8 Four daughters: Joyce, Elizabeth, Anne and Eleanor [707]. 5 Rees ap Thomas ap Ieuan Lloyd alias BLAYNEY [241] + ?Elizabeth +(2)Margaret HERBERT aka Dorothy [309] 2nd wife of Thomas BLAYNEY dau of Sir Richard HERBERT of Montgomery, half-brother of Thomas HERLE. (same mother, Margaret). Margaret was sister of Edward HERBERT (grandfather of Lord HERBERT of Chirbury. [226] 5 Ieuan Llwyd ap Tomas ap Ieuan Lloyd (Evan Lloyd ap Thomas), who was Esquire of the body of King Henry VIII. d.<1547 of the plague at court. [71] 5 Richard Lloyd BLAYNEY, gent + ? 6 Thomas BLAYNEY, gent + Jane ferch Morris (Moris) 7 Richard ap Thomas BLAYNEY bpt.1595 Aberhafesp Most probably the Richard BLAYNEY of Co. Montgomery who matriculated at Oxford (All Souls) capped B.A. 26Feb1619/20 [329] and in 1668 the Mr Blaney who accompanied Samuel Pepys to Whitehall as Lord Ashley's Secretary. [226] + ?Mary v. John m.1616 (Manafon); ?bur.1631 8 ?Katherine bpt.1630 7 Ellen bpt.1597 7 Anne bpt.1600 5 John BLAYNEY, gent. (aka John ap Thomas ap Evan Lloyd) inherited land in Aberhafesp, and was living in Ucheldre (Bettws Cedewain). + Lowry 6 ?Richard BLAYNEY of Berriew or Kerry [226] 5 Edward BLAYNEY (Blaene) of Maesmawr, Llandinam b~ late 1520s + Elizabeth ferch David Lloyd ap Jenkin TUDUR 6 David BLAYNEY, b~1555 gent., One of the two Coroners of Montgomery 1611-1631 [38] [72] + Lowry LEWIS, dau of Lewis GWYNN / GLYN of Llanidloes (the son and heir of Morgan Gwynn, sheriff in 1582), escheator of the county and Mayor of Llanidloes 1556-66 and his wife Mallt ferch Lewis ap Howel ap leuan. Lowry subsequently married Lloyd Piers of Maesmawr & Trowscoed, Guilsfield, sheriff in 1636 and 1650. 7 Lewis BLAYNEY dsp.1614 7 Catherine BLAYNEY (sole heir) 6 John ab Edward BLAYNEY of Maesmawr 5 Catrin BLAYNEY + Gruffudd ap Ievan Goch [65] 5 Oliver BLAYNEY + Sarah v. Humphrey Lloyd of Carno 6 son, a Grand Juror in "Kefyn Llys Llanerfyl" in 1582. A Richard Blainey of Kefnllysucha, Llanerfyl was a Church-warden in 1731, possibly a descendant. [226] 5 Thomas BLAYNEY (possible ancestor of Jane) Youngest son only inheriting if Edward's issues fails (which it appeared to). + ??Jane 7 Six children: Joyce, James, Mab and three other daughters 5 Margaret BLAYNEY [496] + Richard Philips (Phelipps) of Garnest [707] 5 Mary BLAYNEY [496] + Thomas (ap) Howel ap Owen 6 Nicholas OWEN + Jane BANKS m.1640 [496] 7 Blayney OWEN d. intestate 24Feb1708 +(1)Anne (Jane) BLAYNEY, dau of Richard, the 4th Lord BLAYNEY 8 Nicholas OWEN +(2)Mary BLAYNEY dau of Henry & Mary BLAYNEY [419] 7 Edward OWEN of Bellydrimny, co. Meath 5 three other daughters (additional to Margaret, Mary, Florence & Catrin) +(3)?Gwen ferch Daffid Gethm? ?3rd wife of Thomas BLAYNEY 4 Mabli BLAYNEY + Gruffydd DERWAS (Esquire to the Body of Henry VI), son of Meurig Llwyd ap Meurig (6th Lord of Nannau) [73]. He subsequently married Angharad. Gruffydd was tutor and guardian to Meurig Vaughan (or Fychan) of Nannau, son of his murdered brother Howel Selyf (7th Lord of Nannau) and was "the chiefest man in command in the county of Merioneth" See Evan Lloyd BLAYNEY for more info. 5 Gwillym ap Gruffith DERWAS [75] + Elizabeth LLOYD dau of David LLOYD ap David ap Einion of Newtown 6 Gruffydd 6 Gwilym 6 Janet 5 Elin (DERWAS) [75] + Jenkin ap Iowerth ap Einion (1493) 4 Lewis (Lewys) BLAYNEY (married three times) [240] 5 Rees BLAYNEY [226] gent. of Carno 6 Austyn (=Augustine) ap Rees of Carno [240] +(1)Joyce v. John ARNEWAY 7 John ab Austin (aka John AUSTYN) of Wrockwardine co. Salop 7 Rees 7 Thomas +(2)Ales v. Hugh SIENTON 7 Hugh, Evan, Richard, David Lewis, Charles, John and Rees (? after death of half-brother Rees) 7 Evan ..... +(2) Maud, dau of Evan Lloyd 2nd wife of Evan Lloyd BLAYNEY Unless she was very young and Evan Lloyd BLAYNEY was very old when they married, she is unlikely to be the Maud BLAYNEY, head of a household in Aberhafesp in the 1681 St Asaph Notitiae survey. 4 Lawri 3 Rhys (?BLAYNEY) + unknown 4 Dafydd (David) Llwyd + Gwenllian ferch John 5 Rhys Llwyd + Catrin ferch Dafydd ?Yonge 6 ? Rhys 3 Owain + unknown 4 Hywel 3 Elen b~1445 + Ieuan ap Gruffudd b~1445 4 Lowri ferch Ieuan b~1485 [77] + William ap Mathew 3 Dafydd Llwyd (David Lloyd) (?BLAYNEY) + Efa ferch Rhys 4 Cadwaladr + Margred ferch Hywel 5 Catrin + Dafydd ab Owain 5 Rhys of Rhydhesgyn 4 Elen + John Wyn ap Rheinallt 3 Mallt (Mauld) + Dafydd Llwyd ap Ieuan ap Gruffydd 2 Howel BLAYNEY (Hywel ap Ieuan BLAENE) b.1411 Ancestor of the Ystumgwern, Berriew and some Aberbechan Blayneys and in all probability, my ancestor. [see Howell BLAYNEY] 2 Margaret BLAYNEY + Owen ap Meredydd 2 Gwenllian BLAYNEY [?transcription error - should be Gwendlear, see immediately below] + Llewellyn Vychan of Bryndrimor 2 Gwendlear BLAYNE [707] + ___, dau of Lluellyn (Llewellyn) Vychan of Brindwriog [707] 3 Cadwallader (BLAYNE) + Catharine (sic) [707] dau of Howell ap Jem ap Mereduk ap Howell ap LLuellyn Vychan ap Enyon ap Lluellyn ap Meyler Grygge [707] [ie a descendant of Meilir Gryg] 4 David Lloyd ap Cadwallader BLAYNE + ___ 5 Sir Ryce ap David Lluellyn 5 Alice 2 Angharad BLAYNEY + Meredydd ap Davydd 2 Maud (Mawd) BLAYNEY (BLAENE) + Ievan Teg ap Deio (Evan the Handsome), b.1476 in Dolobran, Montgomeryshire [45] [76] Son of Deio ap Llywelyn and his second wife Meddefus. Inherited Dolobran About 1476 he assumed the name of LLOYD from Llwydiarth, the seat-of his grandfather 3 David Teg LLOYD [61] b.1523 [76], [229] Esq of Dolobran In the Commission of Peace for Montgomeryshire +(1)Eva PRICE, dau. of Edward Price, Esq., of Eglusig; no issue +(2)Eva GOCH, dau. of David Goch, Esq., son of Jenkin VAUGHAN Esq of Bodoach 4 David LLOYD of Dolobran, born 1549, a magistrate of Montgomeryshire. + Ales, dau. of David LLOYD, Esq., of Llanarmon-mynydd-maur descended from Rivid Iharrd, Lord of Penllyn 5 John LLOYD of Dolobran, born 1575. In the Commission of Peace for Montgomeryshire 3 Owen (Hir ab Ieuan) Teg LLOYD b.1406, also continued the surname of LLOYD from which the LLOYD of Dolobran originate [61] + Katherine (Catrin, Catherine), dau of (Meredith) Rheinallt (Rinault, Reginald) VAUGHAN, ap Sir Griffith VAUGHAN (who was murdered in the Red Castle 1447) 4 Evan (Ievan) LLOYD (ab oWEN) + Gwenhwywar (Gwenhwfar) ferch Meredith LLOYD of Meifod (Nevoid) 5 John LLOYD + Margaret KYNASTON 4 David LLOYD 4 Ellen LLOYD b. Dolobran 2 Joyce BLAYNEYWhy the surname change to Blayney?
My theory is that Ieuan ap Gruffudd ap Llywelyn ab Einion ap Llywelyn ap Meilir Gryg may have wished to avoid the complexity and confusion that his father must have faced with his name as well as adopting the English surname system. Having a stable surname meant any family legal claims, property rights, deeds, wills, etc. could be recorded in the "new" English legal system and thus safeguarded. He seemed to have selected the Welsh placename Blaenau (meaning upland or river), but spelt it how it is said, ie Blayney. Modern Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council north of Cardiff means "where the valleys meet the mountains of Gwent". A Blaenau Ffestiniog exists in Gwynedd, North Wales, known only for its slate mining, starting in 1765. Evan's Blaenau would have been the headwaters of the Rhiw and the Bechan [570].
This theory is confirmed by the Welsh author Ceninen Dewi who states "When the Welsh began to adopt surnames, many heads of families took the names of their houses, estates, or places of abode, a practice most popular in North wales, where the following surnames were assumed: ...-Blayney, of Blaenau..." [582]
In Lloyd's "The Sheriffs of Montgomeryshire", it is simply stated that Sheriff David Lloyd's ancestor Evan or Ieuan Blayney was "the first who seems to have adopted a surname...As 'Evan Blayney of Tregenon' he appears eighteenth on the roll of burgesses found in the ancient charter of Welshpool 7th June, Henry IV (1406)." Quite possibly, he needed a simple surname to become a Burgess of Westpool.
Burke's Commoners [229], explains that Blaenau is a pure Welsh word for "points" or "extremities" and when used in a place name means "uplands". He proposes a theory that Evan ap Grufydd was put out to nurse at a house called Blaenau and hence the name Ieuan of Blaenau, corrupted to Blayney. The land west of Gregynog & Tregynon does rise to an upland area around Mynydd Clogau, the source of a half dozen streams. See Location Map.
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