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![Show Contents]() Villen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Early Origins of the Villen familyThe surname Villen was first found in the Domesday Book where Hugo de Villana, in 1086, held land at Taunton in Somerset of the Bishop of Winchester. Richard Villanus was of Gloucestershire 1189-90 (Pipe Rolls). In the following century the name occurs in several other counties. William, John, and Hugh le Vileyn, in Shropshire, Richard le Vileyn, in Oxfordshire, and Robert Vilein, in Yorkshire, all appear in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1272. Was the latter the Robert, son of Ralph Villayn de Binglay, who gave lands at Helwick to Rievaulx Abbey, and was likewise a benefactor of Drax Priory, where he lies buried? Simon his son confirmed his grants." 1 In Lincolnshire, Sir William Vileyn, jointly with Swene le Rich, founded a Preceptory for Templars at Mere in the time of Henry H. He gave them three carucates of land at Mere, "six miles south of Lincoln, on what was formerly the commencement of a region of open country called Lincoln Heath. In the time of Henry III., Mere was held by William Albini of Beauvoir. Of this family were probably William and John villan, mentioned in Suffolk in 1199 in the Curia Regis Rolls. A Richard Vilain witnesses a grant to Belvoir Priory in 1223. 1 Early History of the Villen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Villen research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1196, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Villen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Villen Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Villen include Villain, Vilain, Villane, Viland, Villein, Villin and many more. Early Notables of the Villen familyMore information is included under the topic Early Villen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Villen familyThousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Villen were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Jean Vilain who went to Virginia in the year 1700; or the unknown Villain recruited for service in the French colony of Louisiana in 1756. In 1843; Hubert Villain went to New York, and Emilie Vilain went to San Francisco during the gold rush there in 1851..
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
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