Introduction
The Anglo-Norman family of Unfreville are one of the oldest among the nobility of England yet compared to the other great border families (Percy, Wake, Clifford, Lucy and Neville) they are relatively unknown nationally.
This is somewhat unfair as at the height of their power the Umfrevilles held earldoms in Scotland(Angus) and England (Kyme in Lincolnshire), Lordships in Redesdale and Coquetdale, Baronies at Prudhoe, Wooler, Amfreville-dur Iton (Normandy) and manors at Holmside, near Burnhope in County Durham, and Chollerton (near Haumshaugh northeast of Hexham) they also fought in some of the most decisive battles of the middle ages and the Hundred Years War and held positions of high honour with the Kings of England and Scotland.
The Umfrevilles's Earldom of Angus was confiscated by Robert Bruce around 1328, they lost Prudhoe in 1381 through marriage and Redesdale in 1436, which they had ruled for nearly four hundred years, with the death of Robert Umfreville the Vice-Admiral of England.
Elsewhere, the early branch of the Umfrevilles settled in Glamorgan and then gained lands in Devon. At some point in history, another branch appeared in Essex and London descended from the first Earl of Angus, which then produced a further branch that came back to Northumberland and Newcastle with one of them marrying at Elsdon Church.
Taken from the History of the Umfrevilles by Gary Lewis Wright
This is somewhat unfair as at the height of their power the Umfrevilles held earldoms in Scotland(Angus) and England (Kyme in Lincolnshire), Lordships in Redesdale and Coquetdale, Baronies at Prudhoe, Wooler, Amfreville-dur Iton (Normandy) and manors at Holmside, near Burnhope in County Durham, and Chollerton (near Haumshaugh northeast of Hexham) they also fought in some of the most decisive battles of the middle ages and the Hundred Years War and held positions of high honour with the Kings of England and Scotland.
The Umfrevilles's Earldom of Angus was confiscated by Robert Bruce around 1328, they lost Prudhoe in 1381 through marriage and Redesdale in 1436, which they had ruled for nearly four hundred years, with the death of Robert Umfreville the Vice-Admiral of England.
Elsewhere, the early branch of the Umfrevilles settled in Glamorgan and then gained lands in Devon. At some point in history, another branch appeared in Essex and London descended from the first Earl of Angus, which then produced a further branch that came back to Northumberland and Newcastle with one of them marrying at Elsdon Church.
Taken from the History of the Umfrevilles by Gary Lewis Wright
My Unfreville ancestors are of the Devon branch of the family. I descend from Joan Umfreville, the daughter of Gilbert Umfreville, 1296 - 1360.
