Litleboys History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Litleboys is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Litleboys family lived in Nottingham and Derbyshire.

Early Origins of the Litleboys family

The surname Litleboys was first found in Nottingham and Derbyshire where the family can be traced back to William Peverel, (c. 1040-c. 1115) "a natural son of William the Conqueror, who entered England at the Conquest, and received as his share of one hundred and sixty-two manors, many of which were in these two counties." ^[1] He is listed in the Battle Abbey Roll. ^[2] It is claimed that William Peverell the Elder was allegedly the illegitimate son of William the Conqueror by a Saxon princess named Maud Ingelrica.

"At the time of the Norman survey, [Debden, Essex] belonged to Ralph Peverel; and, reverting to the crown, it was given by Henry II. to his son John, afterwards king of England." ^[3] The reason as to why this family seat was lost is not known.

Later some of the family were found further south in Bodmin, Cornwall. "It appears that the bodies of two of its principal benefactors, Sir Hugh and Sir Thomas Peverell, of Park in Egloshayle, were buried in this friary church." ^[4]

Important Dates for the Litleboys family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Litleboys research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1080, 1155, 1088, 1150, 1155, 1419, 1395, 1398, 1398, 1407, 1407, 1419, 1351 and 1377 are included under the topic Early Litleboys History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Litleboys Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Peverell, Peverill, Peverley, Peverly, Littleboys and others.

Early Notables of the Litleboys family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Baron William Peverell ( fl. 1155), of Nottingham, son or grandson of William Peverell the Elder. Thomas Peverell (died 1419) was an English prelate, Bishop of Ossory...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Litleboys Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Litleboys family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Litleboys or a variant listed above: John Peverley settled in Maine in 1626; Rebecca Peverley and her husband settled in Virginia in 1772.

Citations

1. ^ Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
2. ^ Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
3. ^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
4. ^ Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print