L'argent History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the L'argent family name to the British Isles. They lived in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire in the south of England, where they held lands since the early Middle Ages. The family were "from the town and castle of Argenton, Berry, held in 1080 be Geoffroi, Sire d'Argenton, whose descendants continued there for twelve generations. David d'Argenton (perhaps his brother) held lands de capite in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. 1 He is styled David de Argentomago or Argentomo; but the name gradually lapsed to Argentein or Argentine. His manor or Wymondley in Cambridgeshire was held by grand serjeanty, 'to serve the King on his coronation day with a silver cup'; and the English Argentines consequently substituted three covered cups to the torteauxes that had been borne by their ancestors in France." 2 Early Origins of the L'argent familyThe surname L'argent was first found in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire in the south of England. "The descendants of this Norman chieftain, David de Argentine, became feudal barons of great personal distinction. Reginald de Argentine, who appears to have been fifth in descent from the companion in arms of the Conqueror, succeeded all his father Giles de Argentine's vast estates, including the manor of Great Wymondeley, in Cambridgeshire. Of the same ancestry was Reginald de Argentine, who, in the 21 Henry III being a knight templar, was standard bearer of the Christian army in a great battle against the Turks, near Antioch, wherein he was slain." 3 Other early records include Geoffrey Argent was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1180. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Richard de Arengtein in Hertfordshire and Reginald de Argente in Essex. Reginald de Argentein was listed in the Feet of Fines in Norfolk in 1281. 4 "A branch of the Argentines was seated in Yorkshire, where William, the son of Robert, held one knight's fee of Percy early in the reign of Henry I. Walter de Argentoun was the first husband of Aaliza de Percy; and their son Roger left three co-heiresses; Agnes, Asmota, and Elizabeth." 2 Early History of the L'argent familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our L'argent research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1243, 1313, 1507, 1568, 1625 and 1649 are included under the topic Early L'argent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. L'argent Spelling VariationsA multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Argent, Argentine, Argenton, Argente and others. Early Notables of the L'argent familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was John Argentine (died 1507), an English physician who attended Edward V of England and later Arthur, Prince of Wales and was Provost of King's College, Cambridge; John Argent, who was a "Doctor of Physic,"... L'argent RankingIn the United States, the name L'argent is the 6,219th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5
Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name L'argent or a variant listed above: L'argent Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
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