I recently received some indepth research by skilled analysts indicating that ancestors of the Twamley family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman conquest of 1066. They lived in Cheshire, England. Early records show it to be an old Norman surname. The history of the name is closely interwoven within the majestic tapestry as an intrinsic part of the history of Britain. Ancient manuscripts such as the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 by Wm. the Conqueror, the Ragman Rolls, the Wace poem, the Honour Roll of the Battel Abbey, The Coria Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records, baptismals, family genealogies, local parish and church records, shows the first record of the name Twamley was found in Cheshire where they were seated from very ancient times as Lords of the manor of Hatherton in that shire. Conjecturally, they are descended from Wm. Malbank, who was holder of the village of Hatherton at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086, a census initiated by Wm. the Conqueror after his conquest of England in 1066 A.D."
"Many alternate spellings were found in the archives researched, typically linked to a common root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings. From time to time, the surname appears as Twemloe, Twemlow, Twemlowe and Twamley, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded. Typically, a person would be born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with a headstone that showed another name. Sometimes the preferences reflected a branch preference, religious affiliation, or nationalistic statement. The family name Twamley is believed to be descended originally from the Norman race; frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin. They were more accurately of Viking origin.â€
“The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D. under King Stirgud the Stout. Thorfinn Rollo, his descendent, led his people into northern France early in the 10th century. In 911, King Charles III was forced to cede territory to Rollo, who became the first Duke of Normandy, the territory of the north men. Rollo married Charles’ daughter and became a convert to Christianity. Duke William, who invaded and defeated Britain in 1066, was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.â€
“Duke William took a census of most of England in 1086, and recorded it in the Domesday Book. A family name capable of being traced back to this manuscript, or to Hastings, was a signal honour for most families during the middle ages, and even to this day.â€
“The surname Twamley emerged as a notable family name in the county of Cheshire, where they were anciently seated. More recently the family springs from Lidulphus Twemloe of Twemlow who was Sheriff of Cheshire toward the end of the 12th century. By the 16th century they were seated at Arclyd in Cheshire, and retained the manor of Hatherton, Twemlow, Hartford, Castle Northwich, and Leftwich in Cheshire, and also branched to Pentswood in the county of Staffordshire, but essentially their main seat was at Hatherton Lodge near Nantwich.†(to be cont. in next message)