Valetort History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Valetort family

The surname Valetort was first found in Cornwall where conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Newton Ferrers, held by Reginald de Valetort from the Count of Mortain, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

"The manor of Lansladron, [in the parish of St. Ewe, Cornwall] which in Doomsday Survey is called Lanlaran, was held some time after the Conquest by Reginald de Valletort, under Robert Earl of Moreton." 1

"The manor of Ellbridge or Tellbridge, [in the parish of Landulph, Cornwall] which is mentioned in Doomsday under the name of Telbrig, was held by Reginald de Valletort under the Earl of Cornwall." 1

In nearby Devon, near the market-town of Modbury, "Orcherton, at the time of the Survey, was held from the Earl by Reginald de Valletort. The Valletorts soon became the dominant race, and from them Modbury came to the Champernownes, who held it as the seat of the family from the reign of Edward II. until 1700. " 2

Early History of the Valetort family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Valetort research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1080, 1091, 1510, 1538 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Valetort History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Valetort 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 Valetort, Valletort, Valtort, Valitort, Valetorte and others.

Early Notables of the Valetort family

the Valetort family of Devon

Migration of the Valetort 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 Valetort or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Sources +

Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital