Right, the effigy of Sir Edward Stanley (d.1632), son of Sir Thomas Stanley (d.1521) and his wife Margaret Vernon. 

"Ask who lyes heare but do not weep, he is not dead he doth but sleep, this stoney register is for his bones, His fame is more perpetual than these stones, and his own goodness with himself being gone, shall lyve when earthlie monument is none.

Not monumental stone preserve our Fame, nor sky aspiring pyramids our name, the memory of Him for whom this stands, shall outlive marble and defacers Hands, when all to tyme's consumption shall be geaven, Standley for whom this stands shall stand in Heaven".
[Reputedly by Shakespeare. Thomas Stanley monument, Tong].

Describing the death of John Talbot, the 10th Lord Strange of Blackmere.

But where's the great Alcides of the field, Valiant Lord Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, Created, for his rare success in arms, Great Earl of Washford, Waterford and Valence; Lord Talbot of Goodrig and Urchinfield, Lord Strange of Blackmere, Lord Verdun of Alton, Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, Lord Furnival of Sheffield, The thrice-victorious Lord of Falconbridge; Knight of the noble order of Saint George, Worthy Saint Michael and the Golden Fleece; Great marshal to Henry the Sixth, Of all his wars within the realm of France?   
[Lucy, Act IV, Scene VII, Henry V

 

Welcome. 

Visitors to this site will probably appreciate the ancient origins of the le Strange family, and the history surrounding them. Over the past few years my interest in my mother's side of the family has grown. click for my descent from Ruallus Extraneus. The name is associated with several places. The le Strange family had ancient connections with certain counties; most notably they held 4 baronies from the time of the Anglo-Welsh wars on the Shropshire March These were in Cheswardine and Ellesmere, and also; Knockin, and Blackemere (nr.Whitchurch).

Their long-lived connections with Norfolk dates back to Roland le Strange (Ruallus Extraneus in Latin) who founded these branches around 1100 A.D.. Although the le Strange name died out in Shropshire, the eldest surviving branch remains in Norfolk.

In 1916 Hamon le Strange [1840-1918] of this branch published his research into the early le Stranges in 'The Le Strange Records, 1100-1310 A.D.' which I have found very helpful and informative. There were only 50 published and so the book is a rare antique today. This, my husband (click here to visit his castle's and books web-site) and I have been enjoying the updating of. In 1946 a follow booklet called the 'Observations on the Le Stranges With Some Corrections of Prevalent Genealogical Errors' was written by C. L'Estrange Ewen. Some cast doubt on his replacements though it worth a discussion. 

On this site are listed the 3 earliest branches. Some background information on the origins is based mainly on my 3rd great-grand-father's 'Le Strange Records'. Feel free to contact us on these branches, or see links for other specialist web-sites.

Ancient Title

Since early times, the head of the elder branch became the 'Lord High Admiral of the Wash'. The title, which is a complimentary one today, was used by Roman military officials patrolling the coastline. In order to measure his boundary, a new heir would first have to prove his competence in spear throwing. The rule was to throw it from horseback at low tide, as far into the Wash as his strength would allow. 

This longstanding family title would inevitably define the le Strange landholdings, though it is unknown how long it has been in existence with the Norfolk branch. The founder's estate was inherited through marriage in 1112 and his manor house infeudated to his descendants by the Arundel earls, after their westward migration. For about 200 hundred years the family fought in the Anglo-Welsh wars from their bases in Shropshire until John le Strange, 2nd Lord of Knockin, vested his brother, Hamon le Strange in Hunstanton, in 1310. Until then there had been only one cadet branch, in Blackmere. The investment gave rise to the two cadency emblems, a rose & handshake, which Hamon was subject to pay annually. 

Coat-of-Arms. Colours.

Their father, John le Strange, 1st Lord of Knockin, created the earliest known example of the le Strange coat-of-arms by applying its red background. It dates back to the siege of Caerlaverock Castle (Scotland) in 1300, where he displayed two argent lions, passant. Attached to this is the blood thirsty motto, 'mihi parta tueri' ('I will fight for/defend what is mine').  His entry in the mediaeval 'Song of Caerlaverock' poem based on the long triumphant siege, confirms this. The colours he used on the shield are symbolic of: peace & sincerity (silver or white) warrior, martyr, military strength & magnanimity (red) . Centuries later, his 17th great-grandson,  Henry L'Estrange Styleman le Strange of Hunstanton (1815-1862), coordinated his garden with red and white roses to correspond with the shield, and whom in 1846 established the modern sea-side resort in Hunstanton where the unique overhanging cliffs mirror the family colours.

Name.

Some modern variants or spellings of the 'le Strange' name are found internationlly as: Strange, Strong, Streing, or L'Estrange. Ancient variants are often spelt phonetically, and are found in the Norfolk Domesday Book (1085-6), and ancient manuscripts:

Straunge, L'Estrange, l'Estrange, Lestrange Lestraunge, leStraunge, L'estrange,  Le Strange, le Strange.

Founder's Surname.

'Strange' is name held by a medieval foreigner.  The present founder of 'le Strange' however, is said to be Roland who was 'the foreigner' or (le stranger). He was a Breton who had emigrated from France and inherited his wife's fortune. The surname is also pronounced in Latin as Extraneus. 

Founder's Forename.

Roland's forename is reminiscent of the 8^th century French national hero of Charlemagne’s army featured in the popular tale of Chanson de Roland (c.1098-1100).  In Breton & Welsh (not forgetting the earlier Welsh-French historical connections with France) it is translated as Rhiwallonus, in Latin it is Ruallus, and other variants of this found in ancient documents are Riuallonus, Rhiwallon, Ruat, Rualdus, Rodlando. 

Further Reading.

The Le Strange Records, written by Hamon le Strange, 1916 (Will soon be  available)
 This link is to my husband's website, who has written much about the family in his 38 booklet collection.

The Harmonius Music of John Jenkins by Andrew Ashbee
A scholarly book on music and the le Stranges.

Lordship and Community by Cord Oestmann
_{A Fine Strong Boy: The Life and Times of Henry L'Strange Styleman Le Strange (1815-1862)
This can be obatained. It is a good quality booklet about this member of the family.}

For other unlisted, in-print, and 2nd hand books and booklets on the le Stranges:

 
Bartleby.com
Amazon.com
Arapacana Press 
Paul Remfry Home-Page

Links.

ANY L'Estrange Source of reference for any le Strange.
Patrick's Web Page For the Irish L'Estranges.
Observations on the Le Stranges Site is based on the 'Observations on the Le Stranges With Some Corrections of Prevalent Genealogical Errors' written by C. L'Estrange Ewen in 1946.
Styleman/Le Strange Genealogy Pages
Shropshire Genealogy & Information at GENUKI web. Tells you a bit about the region with links.

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[Legend]  [Origins]  [Tudor]  [Stewart] 
[Location]  [Knockin]  [Blackmere]  [Hunstanton]