Let’s face it, we all want to be related to someone famous, important, or memorable.
As I said in a previous post, I’ve traced one of my ancestry lines back to the beginning of the 11th century.
This post is really just a ‘cliff notes’ article detailing who’s in my tree from this line.
So, in rough date order from 1000AD, these are the more notable people in my tree…
(names in BOLD are direct ancestors)
Robert “The Magnificent”, 1st Duke of Normandy (1000-1035)
William the Conqueror (1028-1087)
Matilda of Flanders, Queen of England (1031-1083)
Duncan I, King of Scotland (1031-1093)
William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey (1036-1088)
Saint Margaret of Wessex, Queen of Scotland (1045-1093)
Foulques Paynell, Lord of Dudley (1056-1138)
Henry I, King of England (1068-1135)
Matilda of Scotland, Queen of England (1080-1138)
William de Warrenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey (1081-1119)
Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1102-1153)
Matilda of England, Holy Roman Empress (1102-1167)
Sir Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester (1104–1168)
Robert de Condet, Baron of Thorngate (1106-1141)
William de Percy, 3rd Lord of Topcliffe (1112-1175)
Geoffrey V Plantagenet, Count of Anjou (1113-1151)
Eliza de Clare , Lady of Tunbridge (1115-1150)
Payne de Beauchamp, Lord of Bedford (1120-1157)
Lord Ralph de Bassett, Lord of Drayton and Colston (1131-1160)
William de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Warwick (1133-1184)
Henry II, King of England (1133-1189)
John d’Eu I, Lord of Hastings (1140-1170)
Lord Ralph de Valletort, Lord of Trematon (1140-1187)
Sir William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke (1146-1219)
Sir Simon Beauchamp II of Bedford (1150-1207)
Sir Richard de Fitton I of Bollin (1151-1210)
Emperor Isaac Komnensos of Cyprus (1155-1196)
Ida de Tonsy, Countess of Norfolk (1160-1204)
William ‘the crusader’ d’Aubigny, 3rd Earl of Arundel (1165-1221)
John, King of England (1166-1216)
Baron Robert Fitzwalter (1167-1235)
Sir Richard de Fitton II (1175-1246)
William Longspee, 3rd Earl of Salisbury (1176-1226)
Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford (1177-1220)
Lady Ela Fitzpatrick, 3rd Countess of Salisbury (1187-1261)
William de Beauchamp, Baron of Bedford (1185-1260)
Sir Philip de Wasteneys, Earl of Colton (1190-1226)
Baron Peter de Brus, 7th Lord of Skelton (1190-1241)
John Fitzalan, 3rd Lord of Oswestry (1191-1240)
Sir Guy I of Botetourt (1210-1296)
Duke John Howard of Norfolk (1215-1260)
Sir Edward Fitton (1220-1271)
John de Bellow, Lord of Carlton (1235-1301)
Sir Guy III of Botetourt (1235-1316)
Sir William Howard (1240-1308)
Lady Joan Fitzalan (1260-1300)
Baron John I of Botetourt (1262-1324)
Sir Giles de Plaiz, 1st Baron de Plaiz (1269-1302)
Sir John Howard I, Duke of Norfolk (1276-1333)
Sir Knight Robert Bois (1288-1334)
Lady Joane Wichingham (1290- )
Sir John St. Philibert (1293-1334)
Sir Richard de Plaiz, 2nd Baron de Plaiz (1296-1327)
Baron Symon de Cralle (1308-1361)
Sir Miles de Stapleton II (1309-1364)
Sir John Howard II, High Admiral (1310-1347)
Lady Alice de Bois (1314-1372)
John de Plaiz, Baron of Tofie (1342-1389)
Sir John Howard, Crusader Knight of Wiggenhall (1366-1437)
Sir Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury (1400-1460)
Sir Geoffrey Boleyn, Lord Mayor of London (1406-1463)
Sir John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford (1408-1462)
Countess Elizabeth Howard (1410-1475)
Sir Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby (1435-1504)
Lady Jane de Vere (1440-1471)
Sir William Norreys (1441-1507)
Sir William Howard of Lingfield (1540-1600)
Surprisingly, even with all this aristocracy in my history, I’m incredibly happy with my quiet little life. Surrounded by my family and thankful for the simple things.
Life is truly as good as you make it, regardless of your financial situation. Who really needs to be the richest person in the graveyard? Live the life you have with honesty and gratefulness and you’ll never really be poor.
