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Erleigh Surname - English Patriarchs

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Erleigh Family Surname - English Patriarchs

All current day Earl, Earll, Earls, Earle, Earles Family Branches may Stem from the Original English Berkshire / Somerset Branch.

Read More on the Erleigh / Earle Family History.

The main English branch of the Erleigh family has a recorded genealogical history from the original John de Erleigh of the 1100s.

There are 10 successive generations of males in Somerset and Berkshire, then at the eleventh generation, we have no male heir and only a daughter named Margaret de Erleigh who inherits all the lands.

The main Somerset / Berkshire branch, which then branches off in different directions, we believe to be that from which all the Earles of England and America are descended.

There are other important branches of the family in England, but all, we believe, have had their rise from this main Somersetshire stream.

Here is an excellent documented synopsis of the English Earle Family
EARLS FAMILY CHRONICLES – Christopher Earls Brennen
http://brennen.caltech.edu/earls/chap1.htm

The first 300 Years of the de Erleigh Family 1100 – 1400 (12 Generations)

This list is the “line of succession” or inheritance following the firstborn sons. There are of course many other younger sons that created “Junior” Branches. The younger sons left their father’s land or place of dwelling, married and founded families in other counties, and thus spread the name all over England. We can find Earle sons and families in every part of England, and even in Scotland and Ireland. There can be little doubt that they all sprang from the family whose history began with the first of that name, John de Erleigh (I).

The county of Somerset was the main home of the family and undoubtedly the prolific hive from which they spread in every direction. Even after the firstborn line of succession moves to the county of Devon and then to the county of Dorset we still see three centuries later Earle families residing and holding large estates in the county of Somerset from Junior Branches. We do not have a complete picture or genealogy of these junior branches but we know that the name of Earle has reached far and wide in England and across to America and even to many other countries.

(please note: The numerical suffix is a numbering system used by Earle family researcher Christopher Earls Brennen. In his documentation of the lineage of the Earle family (http://brennen.caltech.edu/earls/chap1.htm). Brennen assigns a Roman Numeral that is attached to the first name in time sequence by date of birth of who was first to use that name. John (I), John (II), John (III), etc. In his numbering sequence, he numbers all the sons by first name and date of birth in all generations and lines. There are two separate numbering systems for the “de Erleigh” surname and one for the later “Erle / Earle” line.

John(I) de Erleigh – 1st GEN

John(I) de Erleigh was the first to use the surname "Erleigh" in English records. He was the first son born after lands in Somerset and Berkshire were granted to his father (William) who served as a knight under King Henry I (Normandie) (1068-1135). He took the name of Erleigh from the land and manors in Berkshire which was recorded in The Domesday survey completed in 1086 as "Herlei" (modern day town, spelled Earley). In the Domesday Survey there is also land in Somerset near Bath that is also called "Herlei" (modern day Warleigh). Erleigh near the city of Reading in Berkshire, records two manors, Erlegh St. Bartholomew and Erlegh St. Nicholas. The manors were later called Erleigh Regis, and Eleigh Whiteknights. The family also had large possessions in the county of Somerset, including the manor and hundred of North Petherton, for which they owed the service of acting as royal chamberlain (source: Red Bk. of Exch. (source: Rolls Ser.), 235, 547).

John(I) de Erleigh served as a Knight in the service of King Henry II (1133-1189). John(I) de Erlegh, as a Norman knight, paid 5 marks in 1161 for scutage* of his lands at Beckington, Somerset to King Henry II; John de Erlegh(I) died in 1165 and in the same year his widow, Adela, paid 5 marks scutage* for their lands. [souce: History and antiquity of the county of Somerset by Rev. John Collison (first 3 volumes).,v.2,p.198]. He was succeeded by his son William de Erlegh(I) [source: Table displayed in the Church of St. Michael, Somerton, Somerset, England.].

*(Scutage is a medieval English tax levied on holders of a knight's fee under the feudal land tenure of knight service. Under feudalism, the king, through his vassals, provided land to knights for their support. The knights owed the king military service in return.)

Thomas de Erleigh – 1st GEN

Thomas de Erleigh, the brother of John(I), was the Archdeacon of Taunton, Somerset in 1164 and of Bath between 1175 and 1185 [source: Table displayed in the Church of St. Michael, Somerton, Somerset, England.][source: Somerset Record Society, P.R.O., Taunton, Somerset including the register of the Abbey of Athelney,v.8,p.34].

Thomas of Earley (fn. 4) alias Agnellus (fn. 5) (edited) Cannon of Wells, prob. prebend at Whitchurch, before 1170 (list 62), appointed archdeacon by king Henry II, s.v., so after 31 Aug. 1166 (Mansi, Concilia XXI 1090 = Jaffé no. 14130).

He first occurs as Thomas archdeacon in 1168, in connection with Somerton, within this archdeaconry. (Taunton, Som. Record Office DD/TB Box 20/4 pp. 14-15); (fn. 6)

He occurs as Thomas Archdeacon of Bath c. March 1170 (Cal. Ch. Rolls IV 184 = R. W. Eyton, Court, Household and Itinerary of King Henry II (1878) p. 135), and as Thomas, new Archdeacon of Bath c. June 1170 (Materials for Becket VII 311 (no. 673));

He was in office for some time before 28 Sept. 1170 (PR 17 Hen. II p. 24; cf. Cal. Ch. Rolls III 378). Occurred many times. Last occupancy, 29 Sept. 1194 × 28 Sept. 1195 (PR 6 Ric. I p. 193).

He was called Thomas of Earley several times, e.g. c. 1174 (Mon. Ang. IV 400 (xi)) and 1181 × 3 July 1183 (EEA X no. 91).

His name occurred with the territorial title of Wells several times (e.g., ibid. nos. 157-66; Cal. I 486).

Thomas was the Kinsman of Bishop Reginald (source: EEA X no. 91).

He was the uncle ('avunculus') of William of Earley, son and heir of John(1), who founder of Buckland priory, in Sommerton. (source: Cart. Buckland nos. 1-2);

He was the brother of Stephen of Tournai (Cal. I 486; cf. Mansi, Concilia XXI 1090 = Jaffé no. 14130). Also, the canon of Tournai, where he was commem. 14 Apr., The obit of thomas was founded by his brother Stephen of Tournai (source: Vleeschouwers pp. 531-2, 535-7).

Thomas was the writer of sermons, called "Magister Thomas Agnellus" (source: Sharpe, Handlist no. 1689).

William(I) de Erleigh – 2nd GEN

William de Erlegh(I), the son and heir of John(I), succeeded his father in 1165 in the reign of King Henry II. In the reign of King Henry II (1133-1189), He is mentioned in the Pipe Roll in 1176. He is certified to hold a knight's fee "in capite" of the king which by virtue of his tenure of North Petherton, Somerset he had the right to be the King's Chamberlain. William(I) de Erlegh died in 1180.

John(II) de Erleigh – 3rd GEN

John de Erlegh(II) was the son and heir of William(I). In the year 1188, William Marshal (abt.1146-1219), a knight in the service of Henry II of England, engaged a new attendant, John de Erlegh(II), who, as squire and knight was to serve him all his life. John became a close advisor and companion to William the Marshal, regent of England, and in the early 13th century continued to serve William Marshall's son William Marshal (abt.1190-1231). As a knight in the household of William Marshal John de Erleigh served and fought under the reign of:
King Richard I (Plantagenet) (1157-1199)
King John (Plantagenet) (1166-1216)
Henry (Plantagenet) of England (1207-1272)

William(II) de Erleigh – 4th GEN

William de Erlegh(II) was the eldest son of John(II). William(II) paid King John (Plantagenet) (1166-1216) scutage for lands in Somerset and Berkshire in 1199 during his father's lifetime. He had two sons John(III) and Henry(I). He Served as a knight in the time of King Henry III (Plantagenet) (1207-1272).

John(III) de Erleigh – 5th GEN (Firstborn - no issue)

John de Erleigh (III) married Isolda (who survived him), and died without issue, in the twelfth year of Henry III (1228).

Henry(I) de Erleigh – 5th GEN

Henry de Erlegh, who was the second son of William(II), inherited from his grandfather John(II) in 1230. He served as a knight in the time of King Edward I Plantagenet (abt.1239-1307)

Philip(I) de Erleigh – 6th GEN

Philip de Erlegh(I), son of Henry by his first wife, married Rosa, daughter and heir of Peter de Marisco. Philip(I) died in 1275, in the time of King Edward I Plantagenet (abt.1239-1307) very soon after his father, and thus his son, John(IV), succeeded when he was only 4 years old.

John(IV) de Erleigh – 7th GEN (White Knight)

John de Erlegh(IV), born in 1271, was only 4 when, in 1275, he inherited from his father, Philip(I). King Edward, I appointed the long wardship to Thomas de Cantelupe, Bishop of Hereford. John(IV) came of age in 1293, and King Edward I Plantagenet (abt.1239-1307), in 1294, took his homage and restored him to his lands. He took part in the Scottish wars of King Edward I and was known as the "White Knight". John de Erlegh(IV) died in 1323.

John(V) de Erleigh – 8th GEN

John de Erlegh(V), the son of John(IV), was born in about 1308 and inherited from his father. He served as a knight in the time of King Edward III (Plantagenet) (1312-1377). John(V) died in 1337.

John(VI) de Erleigh – 9th GEN (White Knight)

John de Erlegh(VI), son of John de Erlegh(V), was born in 1334 and was only two years old when his father died in 1337. On March 19, 1337 King Edward III (Plantagenet) (1312-1377) granted William de Monte Acuto, Earl of Salisbury custody of the de Erlegh lands in England and Ireland during the minority of the heirs of John(V). John(VI) also carried the title of "White Knight" as many did before him. He attended Edward (Plantagenet) of Woodstock (1330-1376), known to history as the Black Prince, who was the eldest son of King Edward III of England. John(V) was in spain and was present at the battle of Najera in 1367 and several other engagements, in one of which he was wounded and taken prisoner, and, being put to a great ransom, was forced to sell the best part of his ancient inheritance.

John(VII) de Erleigh – 10th GEN

John de Erlegh(VII), son and heir of John(VI), succeeded his father in 1372 in the reign of King Edward III (Plantagenet) (1312-1377). He was a knight and married Isabel, daughter of Sir John Pavely, by whom he left only one daughter, Margaret, his heir. He served as a knight in the reign of King Richard II (Plantagenet) (1367-abt.1400).

Margaret (Erleigh) Cheyne (abt.1380-1443) – 11th GEN

Margaret was the daughter and heir of John(VII) and inherited Beckington. She married (2nd marriage) Sir Walter de Sandes and they had a daughter: Margaret de Sandes.

Margaret de Sandes (1406-1472) – 12th GEN

Margaret de Sandes inherited, through her mother, lands that previously were in the possession of the de Erleigh family.
Margaret de Sandes then married John Erle (second cousins) of Ashburton Devon, and this shifts the dominant inheritance to a previously junior branch of the family.
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The knightly surname of “de Erleigh” ceases to be used and the common surname of Earle or Erle becomes dominant. Earle with the “e” on the end differentiated the surname from the English Title of Nobility called an “Earl” and is pronounced like the preceding surname “ER LEE” or “ER LAY” It is sometimes spelled Erle but is pronounced the same.
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John Earle (1409-1484) of Devon - 12th GEN

John Erle(I), of Asburton, County Devon who married Margaret de Sandes was related to the Erles described in the parish records. This marriage produced two sons, Robert Erle(I) and John Erle(II). Both are identified as initiating important branches of the Erle family, John Erle(I) died in 1484 and his wife Margaret in 1472.

Research Resources

Spelling Variations in historical documents:

Norman (French) Era Nomenclature: de Erleigh, de Erlegh, de Erleia, d’Erley, de Derley, de Erle, de Erlee, de Herlegh, de Arle, d’Arley




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Categories: Beckington, Somerset | Earley, Berkshire | North Petherton, Somerset | Somerton, Somerset | Erleigh Name Study