First found in Normandy where they were anciently seated at the seigneurie of Lacella near Falaise and were known as the Barons of Messie. Their estates were held from the Abbey of St.-Sauveur in Evreux, and the village, church, and manor all made their allegiance to this Abbey in 1154. The family was divided into two powerful branches, one of which accompanied Duke William of Normandy in his conquest of England in 1066. They were granted lands at Kirby and were represented by Roger Lacelles in 1130; Picot in 1139, Roger in 1165, later another Robert and Roger who was a Baron in 1295. Randolph Lacelles was head of the Horlsey branch and this descended to John Lacelles of Castle Howard.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Henry Lascelles who settled in Georgia with his son in 1735.

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