Robert D’ Avranches - De Hougham

Robert de Hougham (1160-1230) was a descendant of Norman knights, and fought alongside King Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusades. On his return from the Holy Land he set about the rebuilding of Hougham church, which he found in a ruinous state...

The First Hougham. He took the surname of Hougham, the meaning being the same as Avranches - a home in a hilly place. Part Norman and part Saxon: "hough" - on a hill "ham" - home. He is recorded on the Derring Roll of Arms in the College of Arms at the commencement of the pedigree of Houghams, which also records 4 other Robert de Hougham in sequence. In the Rotary Escheat Role for the Manor of Wavering he is given as Robert de Hougham, Lord of Hougham, and so owned the manor of Hougham. He is the first Hougham to be knighted and receive Coat of Arms. In 1189 by deed of grant he granted the Manor of Boxley which he owned to the abbey of Maidstone in return for certain services from the abbots there, according to this same same Deed of Grant he owned the Manor of Wavering and had let part of it prior to this date 1189. Robert is recorded in a list of Knights with King Richard 1 "The Lion Heart" at the Siege of Acre in Palestine, the first confrontation of the Third Crusade in 1191. On his return to Hougham after the Crusade he undertook to renovate much of the parish church of St Lawrence. He held the Manor of Wavering of the King: "in capite in wavringe 40s rent rendering this service from it that when ever the King should march to Wales, he should find a horse to the value of 5s with a wallet and a broche for 40 days at the Kings cost". A broche was a large vessel of leather in which to carry wine.

References: Derring roll of Arms; 1190 List of Knights; 1189 Deed of Grant Records Maidstone Abbey; All Eschest Roles; Assessment of Knights Fees; Inquisitions of Wavering 1191 -1307.

https://thewillistree.info/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I2816&t...

Recent research would seem to suggest that Robert was actually the son of Ruallo who was himself the grandson of Rualon but until the link is confirmed this tree stays with the traditional history Furthermore, the ancestral tree of Robert requires confirmation as a close look at the dates would seem to show anomalies -RY Oct 2000 Having just acquired a copy of MHP's working papers for her book, I see that see she states that Rualon is PROBABLY the father of Robert, which gives more credence to the opening paragraph. -RY Feb 2004

The First Hougham. He took the surname of Hougham, the meaning being the same as Avranches - a home in a hilly place. Part Norman and part Saxon: "hough" - on a hill "ham" - home. He is recorded on the Derring roll of Arms in the College of Arms at the commencement of the pedigree of Houghams . Also it records 4 other Robert de Hougham in sequence. He is recorded in a list of Knights with King Richard 1 at the siege of Acre on Crusades in 1191. In 1189 by deed of grant he granted the manor of Boxley which he owned to the abbey of Maidstone in return for certain services from the abbots there, according to this same same deed of grant he owned the manor of Wavering and had let part of it prior to this date 1189 He held the manor of Wavering of the King: "in capite in wavringe 40 s rent rendering this service from it that when ever he king shouild march to Wales, he should find a horse to the value of 5s with a wallet and a broche for 40 days at the kings cost" A broche was a large vessel of leather in which to carry wine.. He is given in the Rotary Escheat Role for the manor of Wavering as Robert de Hougham Lord of Hougham, and so owned the manor of Hougham.

References: Derring roll of Arms; 1190 List of Knights; 1189 Deed of Grant Records Maidstone Abbey; All Eschest Roles; Assessment of Knights Fees; Inquisitions of Wavering 1191 -1307

Robert de Hougham I accompanied King Richard 1st "The Lion Heart" to Palestine in the Crusades. He is the first Hougham (as far as known by 1946) to be knighted and receive Coat of Arms. -The arms being "Ar 5 chevs, sable" At about same time as this Robert was a John de Hougham of Whitstable, Kent, England who stood pledge for Ralph de Ditton.

From Ireland's History of Kent vol.II.p.136 -. l37."The Parish of Hougham lies along the high Eastern hills of the county of Kent.The manor was held by a family that took it's name of Hougham from this Parish (Hasted's Kent, vol.9, p. 452. and Ireland's -v.2.p,137 "Chilham was the principal seat of manor of Hougham. (Sometimes called Huffam and and Hicham and Hugham In Domesday Book.)

Hasted's Kent.vol.9.p.202. "Hougham of Dover, who in allusion to the arms of their superior Lords, the Averanches,or Albrineas Albrincas, Lords of the Barony of Folkstone - of whom they hold their lands, bore for their arms" (also vol. 9. p. 452-a Statement by Philpott) Arms, Argent ,5 Chevronnels, sable.

Hasted' s.vol.II.p.27."Fulbert de Lucie assumed name of Dover (Fulbert de Dover) had Baronial residence at Chilham. His descendant Richard de Dover - manor of Hougham held by Knights service - by family who took it's name from this Parish. -Robert Hougham-knight-of Hougham manor near Dover. Suggested connections. Philpott says "That the Arms of Hougham was borne by them in token of their holding under the family of Avranches, Lords of Folkestone, such being a common practise in days of heraldy. The family of Everenge -Everlnge in like manner, either to mark their descent from or feudal connection with the same Lords of Folkestone. Here again is the assumption that although Houghams bore the name of their manor yet they WERE EITHER COLLATERAL DESCENDANCY OF THE FAMILY OF AVRANCHES OR CONNECTED WITH THEM BY MARRIAGE The position of Weddington favors this assumption as it is adjacent to the lands which were part of the Barony of Folkestone, and in the tenure of d' Avranches in the 12th Century."

https://royroyes.net/getperson.php?personID=I2202&tree=rr_tree

The De Houghams – Norman ancestors, Crusader Knights and Church rebuilders

Hougham Coat of Arms / Hougham Family Crest

The surname of HOUGHAM was a locational name 'of Hougham' a small place in County Kent. The small villages and towns in England, gave rise to many surnames as it was customary for a man to be named after the place where he lived or held his land. This name would identify the whole family, and followed them wherever they moved. The name was derived from the Old English word 'HOHAM ' and meant the dweller on the spur of the hill. Early records of the name mention Hucham (without surname) listed as a tenant in the Domesday Book of 1086. Hucham (without surname) 1178, County Kent. Thomas Huffame of Yorkshire was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. William Houghe and Ales Ayneswoorthe were married at Prestbury Church, Cheshire in 1564, and Henry Hougham of Wilmslow was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1618. John Huff and Mary Richman were married at St. Dionis Backchurch, London in the year 1660. Originally the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, the draped and flowing garment worn over the armour. The rise of surnames, according to the accepted theory, was due to the Norman Conquest of 1066 when Old English personal-names were rapidly superseded by the new christian names introduced by the Normans. Of these, only a few were really popular and in the 12th century this scarcity of christian names led to the increasing use of surnames to distinguish the numerous individuals of the same name. Some Normans had hereditary surnames before they came to England, but there is evidence that surnames would have developed in England even had there been no Norman Conquest. The development of the feudal system made it essential that the king should know exactly what service each person owed. Payments to and by the exchequer required that debtors and creditors should be particularized, and it became official that each individual acquired exact identification. Arms recorded at Hougham, Wedington and Barton House, County Kent.

http://www.4crests.com/hougham-coat-of-arms.html