William Peverel
Encyclopedia
William Peverell was a Norman
knight
, and is shown in 'The Battle Abbey Roll' to have fought at the Battle of Hastings
.
princess named Maud Ingelrica (daughter of the noble Ingelric) although this cannot be supported by the historical record. Maud Ingelrica was later married to Ranulph Peverell, from whom William took his surname.
William married Adelina of Lancaster, who bore him a daughter Adeliza, born circa 1075, and a son, also named William
, born circa 1080.
J.R. Planché uses a different argument. To quote, "The name of Peverel ... was not derived from a fief or a locality ... the name was Peverell or Piperell, and in Domesday we find it continually spelt "Piperellus-Terra Ranulphi Pipperelli." This, however, does not illustrate its derivation, and the detestable practice of latinising proper names only tends to confuse and mislead us, as they become in turn translated or corrupted till the original is either lost or rendered hopelessly inexplicable. It may be that like "Mesquin" lesser or junior, translated into Mischinus, and distorted into De Micenis, Peverel is the Norman form of Peuerellus, as we find it written in the Anglo-Norman Pipe and Plea Rolls. The u being pronounced v in Normandy, and Peuerellus being simply a misspelling of the Latin Puerulus, a boy or child, naturally applied to the son to distinguish him from his father. William Peverel was therefore, literally, boy or child William. We see in the instance of the descendants of Richard d'Avranches how "Mesquin," used to distinguish a younger son, became the name of a family, and so it may have been with Peverel, which, originally applied to William, was afterwards borne by so many of his relations in England."
records William as holding substantial land (162 lordships), collectively called the Honour of Peverel
, in Nottinghamshire
and Derbyshire
, including Nottingham Castle
. He also built Peveril Castle
, Castleton, Derbyshire. Peverel is one of people explicitly recorded in the Domesday Book
as having built castles.
for their support of Stephen
against the Empress Matilda
. The baronial family of the Peverels descend from Ranulph, not William.
After his first wife had died, William's son, William Peverel the Younger
, married Avice de Lancaster, daughter of Roger of Poitou, Earl of Lancaster
.
Beryl Platts has suggested that the Peverels in Normandy
derive in fact from Flanders
.
, Sampford Peverell
, Hatfield Peverel
, etc.
The name is also known in the Isle of Man as "Peveril", e.g. Peveril Avenue / Road / Terrace, Peel, and Peveril Hotel / Buildings / Road / Square / Street / Street Lane / Terrace, Douglas. This association derives from Sir Walter Scott's novel "Peveril of the Peak" (1822) in which the character Fenella (Manx Gaelic female name meaning 'white shoulder, Irish "fionnghuala") features, as part of the story centres around Peel Castle, Peel, Isle of Man. The names "Peveril" and "Fenella" have also been used on freight and passenger steamers of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. Ltd. (George Broderick, Mannheim). In addition the IOMRLy Company names a number of it's locomotives after Characters from the Novel such as No8 Fenella, No 6 Peveril (Various sources including Boyd, Preston & Powell Hendry).
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, and is shown in 'The Battle Abbey Roll' to have fought at the Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
.
Biography
William Peverell the Elder was probably the illegitimate son of William the Conqueror and a SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
princess named Maud Ingelrica (daughter of the noble Ingelric) although this cannot be supported by the historical record. Maud Ingelrica was later married to Ranulph Peverell, from whom William took his surname.
William married Adelina of Lancaster, who bore him a daughter Adeliza, born circa 1075, and a son, also named William
William Peverel the Younger
William "the Younger" Peverel was the son of William Peverel. He lived in Nottingham, England.He married Avicia de Lancaster in La Marche, Normandy, France. She was the daughter of Roger "The Poitevin" Montgomery and Countess Almodis of La Marche. In 1114, she bore a daughter, Margaret Peverel...
, born circa 1080.
Etymology
"Peverel" which comes from the Latin name "Piperellus" derived from the diminutive Latin "piper" which means "pepper". Starting from the Latin root "pǐpĕr" is the word "peivre" in Old Normand, also means "pepper", but there is also the form slang that means "angry, irascible, aggressive, atrabilarious, angry, fulminant, furious, fractious, anxious, irritable, stormy, touchy", which gave, the surnames following "Peiverel, Pevrel, Peivrel" (in French, this may give "Poivret and Poivrot"). [For more ample information, see Placenames]J.R. Planché uses a different argument. To quote, "The name of Peverel ... was not derived from a fief or a locality ... the name was Peverell or Piperell, and in Domesday we find it continually spelt "Piperellus-Terra Ranulphi Pipperelli." This, however, does not illustrate its derivation, and the detestable practice of latinising proper names only tends to confuse and mislead us, as they become in turn translated or corrupted till the original is either lost or rendered hopelessly inexplicable. It may be that like "Mesquin" lesser or junior, translated into Mischinus, and distorted into De Micenis, Peverel is the Norman form of Peuerellus, as we find it written in the Anglo-Norman Pipe and Plea Rolls. The u being pronounced v in Normandy, and Peuerellus being simply a misspelling of the Latin Puerulus, a boy or child, naturally applied to the son to distinguish him from his father. William Peverel was therefore, literally, boy or child William. We see in the instance of the descendants of Richard d'Avranches how "Mesquin," used to distinguish a younger son, became the name of a family, and so it may have been with Peverel, which, originally applied to William, was afterwards borne by so many of his relations in England."
Lands in England
Whatever his paternity, William Peverel was a favourite of the Conqueror. He was greatly honoured after the Norman Conquest, receiving over a hundred holdings in central England from the king. In 1086, the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
records William as holding substantial land (162 lordships), collectively called the Honour of Peverel
Honour of Peverel
The Honour of Peverel is a collection of buildings and land. The honour was granted to William Peverel by William the Conqueror...
, in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
and Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, including Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle is a castle in Nottingham, England. It is located in a commanding position on a natural promontory known as "'Castle Rock'", with cliffs high to the south and west. In the Middle Ages it was a major royal fortress and occasional royal residence...
. He also built Peveril Castle
Peveril Castle
Peveril Castle is a medieval building overlooking the village of Castleton in the English county of Derbyshire. Its site provides views across the Hope Valley and Cave Dale. The castle is named after its founder, William Peveril, who held lands in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire on behalf of the king...
, Castleton, Derbyshire. Peverel is one of people explicitly recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as having built castles.
Family
Maud and Ranulph's known legitimate son, also Ranulph, was almost as well favoured by the king as William was. He was granted 64 manors in Nottingham, although these were later taken from his family by Henry IIHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
for their support of Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
against the Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
. The baronial family of the Peverels descend from Ranulph, not William.
After his first wife had died, William's son, William Peverel the Younger
William Peverel the Younger
William "the Younger" Peverel was the son of William Peverel. He lived in Nottingham, England.He married Avicia de Lancaster in La Marche, Normandy, France. She was the daughter of Roger "The Poitevin" Montgomery and Countess Almodis of La Marche. In 1114, she bore a daughter, Margaret Peverel...
, married Avice de Lancaster, daughter of Roger of Poitou, Earl of Lancaster
Earl of Lancaster
The title of Earl of Lancaster was created in the Peerage of England in 1267, merging in the crown in 1399. See also Duke of Lancaster.-Earls of Lancaster :...
.
Beryl Platts has suggested that the Peverels in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
derive in fact from Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
.
Placenames
The Peverell name was later spelled "Peverel", and it appears in both forms in town names across England, e.g., PeverellPeverell
Peverell is a neighbourhood of Plymouth in the English county of Devon. The 2001 Census estimated the population as 6,455.The area was originally part of the manor of Weston Peverell, and is named in the Domesday Book. Two of the main roads are named Peverell Park Road and Weston Park Road...
, Sampford Peverell
Sampford Peverell
Sampford Peverell is a village in Mid-Devon, England. Its name reflects its inclusion in the Honour of Peverel, the lands of William Peverel and his family...
, Hatfield Peverel
Hatfield Peverel
Hatfield Peverel is a large urban village and civil parish in the centre of Essex, England. Its population, including the hamlet of Nounsley, is approximately 5,500 . Hatfield means a 'heathery space in the forest'; Peverel refers to William Peverel, the Norman knight granted lands in the area by...
, etc.
The name is also known in the Isle of Man as "Peveril", e.g. Peveril Avenue / Road / Terrace, Peel, and Peveril Hotel / Buildings / Road / Square / Street / Street Lane / Terrace, Douglas. This association derives from Sir Walter Scott's novel "Peveril of the Peak" (1822) in which the character Fenella (Manx Gaelic female name meaning 'white shoulder, Irish "fionnghuala") features, as part of the story centres around Peel Castle, Peel, Isle of Man. The names "Peveril" and "Fenella" have also been used on freight and passenger steamers of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. Ltd. (George Broderick, Mannheim). In addition the IOMRLy Company names a number of it's locomotives after Characters from the Novel such as No8 Fenella, No 6 Peveril (Various sources including Boyd, Preston & Powell Hendry).