Norman Question

[ForresterModern]

Forrester/Forster/Foster clan originated from the flemish Forestierre. One by this name was the right hand man to William the Conqueror (and his brother in law) during the norman conquest, which stopped right around the Firth of Forth supposedly. This Forestierre was granted land and title to a sizable tract west of Edinburgh in the area known as Corstorphine, along with some other lands further west toward Sterling.

jeff

[ThistleDown]

Robert, many of the knights who came across the channel with William were mercenaries of Flemish origin and not Normans themselves. Among those were the progenitors of clans and families now bearing the names Balliol, Beaton, Brodie, Bruce, Cameron, Campbell, Comyn, Crawford, Douglas, Erskine, Fleming, Forester, Fraser, Graham, Hamilton, Hay, Innes, Leslie, Lindsay, Lyle, Murray, Oliphant, Seton, Stewart. Of course, as was pointed out earlier, bearing any of these names doesn't mean there's a drop of Flemish blood in the veins

For a better understanding there's "The Flemish Influence in Scotland" by Annette Hardie-Stoffeln.

Rex

[Lallans]

Forrester/Forster/Foster clan originated from the flemish Forestierre. One by this name was the right hand man to William the Conqueror (and his brother in law) during the norman conquest, which stopped right around the Firth of Forth supposedly. This Forestierre was granted land and title to a sizable tract west of Edinburgh in the area known as Corstorphine, along with some other lands further west toward Sterling.

jeff

Cher Cousin Forrester,

That is the second thing I've seen tracing Clan Forrester back to the Normans. The other was one of those family tradition things that is tracable back to someone from the late 1800s, and that person was probably not clan-minded.

This latest would gives me two distinct (if distant) lines of descent from Belgium. I may have to reread the TinTin stories to get a better grasp of the heritage. Mind you, Asterix met up with more and better Normans than TinTin ever did.

[Chas]

There is some one-upmanship and snobbery, here in the UK, attached to families which believe that they came across with William.

In our family we don't say that we came across with the Conqueror; we say we were here to meet him.

Regards

Chas

[BoldHighlander]

There is some one-upmanship and snobbery, here in the UK, attached to families which believe that they came across with William.

In our family we don't say that we came across with the Conqueror; we say we were here to meet him.

Put's me in mind of something Will Roger's said (which would also apply to some of my ancestors):

"My ancestors didn't come over on the Mayflower, but they met 'em at the boat"

[Manitoban Keith]

Harvey, sept of Keith, is Norman. I believe it comes from "de Hervey" (sp?), which meant "battle worthy".

[Ancienne Alliance]

There is some one-upmanship and snobbery, here in the UK, attached to families which believe that they came across with William.

In our family we don't say that we came across with the Conqueror; we say we were here to meet him.

Regards

Chas

My ancestors come from both sides: Those who crossed AND those who where there to meet them...

...no wonder I"m snob !


best,

Robert