The name "Blankenship" came from Northumberland, England. To this day there is a Blenkinsop Castle in that area. It was not unusual long ago in this country for Native Americans to adopt "white man's" names in order to "blend in" with white society. Also, at one point in US history, after Native Americans were put onto reservations, US government tried to take Native American's culture away from them by refusing to let them speak their language, wear their native clothing, made to cut their hair like whites, and many were adopted by white families.