Ralph Lovel (abt. 1050)

Born about 1050 in Normandy, France

Descendants

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Biography

The surname Lovel, Luvel, Lovet (Lupellus— little wolf) was not uncommon in Norman times, and there is no likelihood that the families bearing it come from a common stock. The first known ancestor of the Lovels of Castle Cary was Ralph Lovel. He was a tenant of William, Count of Mortain, founder of the priory of Montacute in 1078, who granted to the priory his interest as overlord in the land of Etheberga(b-199) which Ralph Lovel gave to Montacute.(c-199) At the time of Domesday one Ralph was tenant to Walter de Douai for half of Chilcompton and of West Harptree; and one Lovel was a knight of the Bishop of Chichester for a hide of land at Aldingbourne and Preston (near Lewes), which may well have been the Sussex property which was later in the hands of the Lovels of Castle Cary.

(b-199) His identification of this place is discussed by Lionel Landon in notes on this family in _Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset_, vol. xviii, p. 175. (c-199) The Count of Mortain d. in 1088 (Cott. MS., Tib., A x). The grant by Ralph Lovel is recorded in Henry II's confirmation to Montacute Priory of the gift of Henry I, the said Count of Mortain and his men, and other barons of England and Normandy (_Cal. Charter Rolls_, vol. ii, p. 136). [Ref: CP VIII:199-200]

Research note: the Domesday survey occurred 1086. Not sure if CP is saying the two Ralph's mentioned are different persons or possibly the same.

Sources

• The Phillips, Weber, Kirk, & Staggs families of the Pacific Northwest, by Jim Weber, Rootsweb.com