Everingham's of Ancient Times Old World Everingham records found...
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In ancient times, people rarely used their father's last name, and each generation produced a new name that was quite often, un-linkable to one's ancestors. Organized Governments pushed the passing of a family name to generations to keep track of taxation, migration, and geographical records. (yes you're right,... mostly to keep track of taxes!) In some governments, keeping the last name of a child's father was a forced law. By the mid 1400's, most people had a fixed last name that they passed down to their children. The Everingham name seems a little bit older than many last names found commonly today. The chronicles of England's ancient records system suggest that "Everingham" is descended from the oldest of Norman names. or, more appropriately... An old Saxon name of a place in England, that the Norman's used as a last name.

I've heard explanations that sound possible, and some that need little research to discount as someone's wildest guess. I don't care what your grandmother told you, the name has nothing to do with "Ring-Makers" or "Ham Salesmen"! One bit of research suggests that the name Everingham means "From the Village of Eofor's people in the East Riding of Yorkshire". This points to a definite area of England. Still another, more detailed explanation gives us this origin; "One who came from Everly" which is an area of England, specifically, in Wiltshire, and the North Riding of Yorkshire. Most common sense research points to the name originating from an ancient area of England.... Yorkshire or Lincolnshire, England.

10th Century



It is believed by European historians, that the people of the "Norman" area were direct descendants of ancient French, and most likely even more ancient Vikings. Famous Viking Thorfinn Rollo seiged Paris in 910AD, and was granted the northern area of France then named "Normandy" meaning "the territory of the north men". This Viking "Rollo's" descendants became the noblemen, and Duke's of Normandy.
see #3 below - the connection of "Margery de Everingham's husband to a ROLLO."

11th Century
William the Conqueror



In 1086, the "Domesday Book" was compiled. The Domesday book was a census compiled by Duke William after he had defeated King Harold at Hastings in 1066, so William would know who lived upon the land. The Domesday Book records that the Everingham estates consisted of 6,858 acres. It further says: "In Everingham with its berewick, Londesborough, Foulthorpe, Goodmanham, they are liable to be taxed 17 carucates - three and seven ploughs." It was held by Archbishop Eldred as one manor. So, at the time of the conquest, "Everingham" was NOT given over to the conquering Normans, it was controlled by the church. Eventually the Archbishop gave lands to somone who lived at Everingham for performing military service owed to the King to support the land.
Duke William was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy. Previously known as William the Bastard, Duke William later became known as "William the Conqueror". He reigned as the first Norman King of England from 1066-1087. Gilbert de Ghent was a Norman nobleman over "Barton-upon-Humber" appointed by Earl Hugh the Earl of Chester. It is speculated by some English historians, that Everingham's are descendents of the nobleman Gilbert de Ghent. I think that it's likely impossible to prove exactly who they descended from, but it appears that the original Everingham inhabitants were SAXONS. The Normans came into the area in 1066, but it remained under church control at that time. The first Knight of Everingham was an inhabitant of the area who served the King to support the Church's control of Everingham, which ultimately gave him land at Everingham.

12th Century



  1. Thomas de Everingham was born about 1150, which is only about 63 years after the end of the reign of the first Norman King, William the Conqueror. Thomas was born in an area of Yorkshire England known as "Everingham". He was probably known as Thomas of Everingham and was probably of Norman descent, using the last name of the "Saxon" area his family controlled or lived at.

    13th to 15th Century


    Not much is "currently" known about Everingham's of the 12th Century, but many records show up in the 13th century and beyond...
    Timeline of
    The Kings
    of England


  2. One of the oldest extensive Everingham genealogies that I "currently" know of, and have included on this web site, is of Robert of Everingham who was born between the end of the 12th century, and 1205. Several generations of his family are included on this site.
  3. In about 1274, Margery de Everingham married Robert de Percy of Bolton Percy, Yorkshire, England. The de Percy family were one of the most influential families of England, and owned more estates and Castles than almost any other family in England's history. Robert was a direct descendant of one of the Norman Noblemen discussed above, - "Viking Rollo (b.abt 950 Norway)"
  4. As records show,... The first Baron Everingham was summoned to Parliament in 1309 by King Edward II.
  5. Sire Adam de Everingham died and his Lordship has been in abeyance since 1371.
  6. Robert de Everingham b.1276 married Lucia, the heiress of Robert de Thweng, b.1252, Lord of Kilton Castle in Yorkshire England.
  7. Reynold de Everingham succeeded Robert and Lucia, and was seated at Rokely.
  8. Margaret de Everingham born in about 1331, married Hugh de Hastings, who was the son of Hugh Hastings, "Knight" born about 1310.
  9. In 1350, A Nun, named Margaret de Everingham is attacked in uncertain times.
  10. Baroness Katherine (Everingham) Beaumont married Sir John Beaumont "Knight" about 1379. John was Admiral of the North Sea, Constable of Dover Castle, and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. Their children, were Sir Henry Beaumont "Baron" at Folkingham Castle, Sir Thomas Beaumont "Knight", and Baroness Elizabeth (Beaumont) Botreaux wife of the 3rd Lord Botreaux. The Beaumonts are descendants of King Henry III., and thus linked to King Henry II, and King John I, Edward Longshanks and King Edward II, and Alexander II & III, King of Scotland.
  11. Sir Thomas Everingham represented the family in 1474 when he married Margeret, the widow of Richard de Turville in Leicestershire.
  12. Joan "Cecily" Waterton, was the Daughter of Sir Robert Waterton "Knight", and Joan de Everingham. Cecily married "Knight" Sir Leo Welles in 1417. At least one of their children also married into a family of "Knights" and "Lords" in active royal life in the mid 1400's.
  13. In the brief reign of King Richard III, as he was tending to matters of unrest in his lands, he lost some ships to a French Fleet. Captain Sir Thomas Everingham was lost near the shore of the castle Scarborough in 1484.
    possibly this Thomas or a related one: "A commission was composed of Thomas Everyngham and James Knyghley, who were supposed to arrest ships in Hull. Everyngham had acted as a justice of gaol delivery and a collector of forced loans for the expedition to Gascony. Knyghley was a wool merchant from York. "

In the 15th century (1400's), Everingham's owned estates in Yorkshire at: Stainbrough in Suffolk, and at Laxton and Smenton in Nottingham. Later, estate records also show up for Everingham estates at Astwell in Rutland.

In 1512, Dorothy Everingham, daughter of Henry Everingham of Stainbrough married Roland EYRE of Hassop in Nottingham. This brought the Stainbrough estates with her in marriage from the Everingham family to the Eyre's. Stainbrough later became known as Wentworth Castle.

Kevin Everingham

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