Sir Henry de Vere, of Addington

A legend lingers round the acquisition of the de Vere (star) badge. In the version as told by Leland, Aubrey was 'at the Conquest of the Cities of Nicque, of Antioch, and of Hierusalem' and: "In the year of our lord 1098, Corborant, Admiral to the Soudan of Persia was fought with at Antioch, and discomforted the Christians. The Night coming on in the Chace of this Bataile, and waxing dark, the Christianes being four miles from Antioche, God, willing the saufte of the Christianes shewed a white Starre or Molette of fyve Pointes, which to every Manne's Sighte did lighte and arrest upon the standard of Albrey, then shining excessively". The mystic star from this miracle became the de Veres' badge, which they wore on their shields from then onwards - quarterly gules and or, in the first quarter a mullet argent. Later heralds argued that it was merely 'a mullet with a difference' as always used to distinguish a younger son from an elder. Others said that it was not a star at all, but the rowl spur, from the French word mollet, which could have been held up as a pre~arranged sign to muster supporters and was caught in a ray of sunlight. "But for the de Veres the badge was simply "God" pointing out the family's near~deity". From Verily Anderson, 'The Veres of Castle Hedingham'. Surname-This Norman surname recorded in the spellings of de Vere, Vere, Vear, Veare and Vears, was introduced into England in 1066. It is one the few which can be proved with absolute certainty to have been with William the Conqueror during the Invasion and at the battle of Hastings. Furthermore they served with conspicuous distinction so much so that the name holders were granted large estates, mainly in East Anglia, some of whom they still hold after nine hundred years. The origination is from the villages of 'Ver' in the canton of Guttray, La Manche, Normandy, although there is also a Dutch town called 'Veere' on the island of Walcheren, and it is possible that later nameholders may have originated there. The famous family of De Vere's were awarded the original Earldom of Oxford, and later the Dukedom of Ireland, and there has hardly been a time in British history when a nameholder has not been closely involved with events. The early name recordings include Baldewine de Ver of Oxford, in the Hundred Rolls of the year 1273, Henry de Ver of Sussex in the same year, and Robert Vere of Essex, but in the register of Oxford University for the entry of 1581. Later recordings include Henry de Vere, also of Oxford in 1605, and Jane Vear, married at St George's chapel, Hanover Square, London, in 1780. The coat of arms has the blazon of quarterly red and gold, a knights spur in silver, all within a engrailed bordure of black. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alberic de Ver, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of the county of Essex, during the reign of King William 1st, known as 'The Conqueror', 1066-1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.