The Bloods of County Clare (1613)

Author: Garry Michael Blood, 24 Jul 2023

County Clare (in dark green)

This page is dedicated to evidence and analysis concerning the Bloods of County Clare, which line was, according to Irish Blood family history, founded by Edmund Blood in 1595 or thereabouts. However, the first document we have showing a Blood presence in Clare dates from 1613. Here's what we have so far from the very, very sparse Irish records of this period:

1613 - Edmund Blood, presumably the founder of the line, was elected one of two members of parliament from the borough of Ennis, the county town of Clare.
12 Mar 1622/3 - Neptune Blood, presumably the son of Edmund Blood of that name, was ordained at Trinity College Dublin.
1 Jul 1629 - Edmond Blode was involved in a case before the high court in Dublin. This could have been either Edmund Blood the founder or Edmund Blood his second son.
14 Nov 1634 - Neptune Blood was involved in a case before the high court in Dublin. The case also involved the 5th Earl Thomond, whose earldom was County Clare.
19 May 1635 - Katherine Blood was involved in a case before the high court in Dublin which also involved the Earl of Thomond, indicating she was likely a Clare Blood and may have been one of the unnamed wives of Edmund Blood the founder.
7 Jun 1636 - Thomas Bludd was involved in a case before the high court in Dublin. As Thomas Blood is often listed as one of the four sons of Edmund Blood, this could be him.

That's not a lot for the first 40+ years of the Blood presence in County Clare, especially as we're given to believe this was a prominent family of the Anglo-Irish gentry. But such is the state of the early Irish records, many of which were lost in an archive fire in Dublin in the 19th century.

The following sub-pages provide further information on the three most prominent or well-known of the earliest generations of Clare Bloods:

Blood Name Study: The Bloods of County Clare

The Bloods of County Clare (1613)