Arms of Blacker

THE BLACKERS OWNED 1,466 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ARMAGH

This family, according to Burke's, derives its name and descent from BLACAR, king or chief of the Norsemen, or Danes, who settled at Dublin in the beginning of the 10th century. He was the son of Godfred, and the grandson of Imar. Succeeding his brother Amlave in 938, he led back the Danes to Dublin, from whence they had been driven.

In 940, he plundered Clonmacnoise and Kildare, and the next year he slew with his own axe, in a pitched battle on the banks of the River Bann, Muirchertach, King of Ailech, called the Hector or bravest of his time. A battle-axe features in the Blacker coat-of-arms and crest.

The day after, he marched against and sacked the city of Armagh. It is a singular fact that his descendants have for many generations possessed the site of this victory; the traditions of the country; the remains of an ancient encampment; and the discovery of both Danish and Irish weapons (some of which are in the possession of the Blacker family).

These facts strongly corroborate the testimony of historians, in this particular. In 943, Blacar was driven from Dublin by a successful attack of the Irish, and he fell in 946 near that city, with 1,600 of his people, vanquished by Congalach, King of Ireland, and was succeeded by his son, SITRIC MacBLACAR.

By some authors he is called Blaccard, and it is worthy of observation, that the name is still frequently pronounced, in some circles, Blackard.