Adam DE STANLEY (1125?-1200)

Individual Events and Attributes

Marriage

Individual Note

Adam de Stanley was born circa 1125, and he possibly was the brother (or brother in law) of Lydulph de Aldithley, who was born circa 1115. They were both thanes (the early equivalent to knights) and they held the freehold tenancies of their respective estates in Staffordshire from the Norman De Verdun family by socage, i.e. military service, which required them to defend their Overlord and his possessions. Lydulph held Aldithley and Balterley, whereas Adam held Talk on the Hill. It is unlikely that either held a surname during their actual lifetime. Surnames were introduced into England by the Normans, but they were still rare at the time of the Great Survey in 1086, when only the more important barons used them. These surnames were generally derived from their Normandy estates. The minor barons and knightly families began adopting surnames during the 12th century and these were generally derived from their new English estates.

Sources