Edmund Blackadder who shot Harold II at The Battle of Hastings. Blackadder is a genuine surname, its usage in the UK currently documented back to the 15th century, which may explain the choice of the name, with the first series being set in this time period. The name is thought to be mostly Scottish in origin, which is not contradicted in the series, as the first Blackadder begins as the Duke of Edinburgh. In the third series it is revealed that a branch of the Blackadder family is a significant clan in Scotland, although they have become known by the name MacAdder.
Blackadder: Back & Forth guests are impressed by what Blackadder has returned with, but due to his interference with history, Robin Hood is unheard of, Shakespeare is only known as the inventor of the ballpoint pen, and Britain has been ruled by the French since Napoleon's victory at Waterloo. Horrified by this, Blackadder gets back into the time machine to try and fix things. He encourages Shakespeare, flatters Robin Hood, and prevents the death of the Duke of Wellington. They return home to collect Blackadder's winnings from his guests. He tells them to go upstairs and watch the New Year's festivities on television, assuring