It is my experience that many new family historians sometimes get fixated on a specific spelling of their name. however after over 20 yrs of researching the Blackstone/Blakiston family and variants I never cease to be amazed at how surname spellings vary between family members, across generations and even in the same individual over the course of their lifetime.

In the UK surnames didn't become fixed until the introduction of state schools in the late 1800's. Evidence for this can be seen in the Blackstone DNA study which has proven a connection between a Blackstone family which was to be found in Beverley, East Yorkshire & a Blakeston family from the same vicinity.

de Blakyston, Blakiston, Blakeston, Blackston(e), Blackiston, Blackingstone, Blaxton, Plaxton, Plaisterer, Blackton & Blacktin; are a few examples of variant spellings which I have found to show connections over the course of the years. Some have similar, if not the same origins. Others can represent individuals who are wrongly ascribed to a family but then get fixed with that surname. An example of this being the famous Judge Sir William Blackstone who was really a Braxton.

The DNA Study has had a superb response from the Blackstone/Blacksten family of Maine. I have just updated my website with new results: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/christopher.atkinson700/docs/

There are more results from this family yet to come. But the results have re-written our pre-supposed ideas of the families origins.

This family are believed to have descended from the Rev William Blaxton of Boston. He was born at Horncastle, Lincolnshire. He is said to come from a family from Blaxton Hall. It has always been assumed that this was Blakiston Hall, Durham but his DNA shows no connection to that family.

In the UK the spelling variants Blacktin, Blackton, Blackten & Plaxton seem to gather around Belper, Ecclesall Bierlow, Derby & Sheffield. Of note the spelling variant Blacksten is often evident in the Reverend's descendents. Could it be that there is a connection to these familes?

Of note the locations mentioned radiate around Blaxton by Doncaster and/or Blaxton Hall, Nottingham (see my website).

An outside possibility (I doubt it) is a connection between his family and the Blackstones of Devon. This family where often known as Blackingstone. A branch of whom founded a large family in Kent.

DNA, would seem to be the route to finding answers to some of these questions. It's only time before we get these answers. Some trees will require re writing. Others will be verified. But we will only get those answers as more volunteers come forwards to test.