De Lacy

de Lacy (Laci, Lacie, Lascy, Lacey, Lassey) is the surname of an old Norman family which originated from Lassy, Calvados. The family took part in the Norman Conquest of England and the later Norman invasion of Ireland. The name is first recorded for Hugh de Lacy (1020–1085). His sons, Walter and Ilbert, left Normandy and travelled to England with William the Conqueror. The awards of land by the Conqueror to the de Lacy sons led to two distinct branches of the family: the northern branch, centred on Blackburnshire and west Yorkshire was held by Ilbert's descendants; the southern branch of Marcher Lords, centred on Herefordshire and Shropshire, was held by Walter's descendants. Until 1361, the northern branch of the family held the great Lordship of Bowland before it passed through marriage to the Duchy of Lancaster. They were also Barons of Pontefract and later (via two female lines) Earls of Lincoln. The southern branch of the family became substantial landholders in the Lordship of Ireland and was linked to the Scottish royal family; Elizabeth de Burgh, great granddaughter of Walter de Lacy, married Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland.

Brothers Ilbert and Walter de Lacy jointly held the Norman lands of the Bishop of Bayeux. They participated in the Norman conquest of England. While there is evidence that Ilbert fought at William's side at Hastings, there is no record of Walter fighting at Hastings. Ilbert was a major participant in the Harrying of the North (1069–70) which effectively ended the quasi independence of the region through large scale destruction that resulted in the relative "pacification" of the local population and the replacement of local Anglo Danish lords with Normans. In return, he received vast grants of land in West Yorkshire, where he built Pontefract Castle. The Honour of Pontefract, which included the manor of Stanbury, was maintained by Ilbert's direct male descendants for the next three generations until 1192. It continued in the female line until 1348. Some of the English holdings lost by Roger the Poitevin due to his rebellion were awarded to Robert de Lacy, the son of Ilbert de Lacy. In 1102, King Henry I of England granted the fee of the ancient wapentake of Blackburnshire and further holdings in Hornby, and the vills of Chipping, Aighton and Dutton in Amounderness to de Lacy while confirming his possession of the Lordship of Bowland. who received a large fief in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire and built Pontefract Castle. ), 4th Baron of Pontefract, 4th Lord of Bowland, the second son of Robert de Lacy. He built Kirkstall Abbey. Robert de Lacy (died 1193), 5th Baron of Pontefract, 5th Lord of Bowland, son of Henry. Although he married he had no children. Buried at Kirkstall. He founded Stanlow Abbey on the banks of the River Mersey in 1178. Roger de Lacy (1170–1211), 6th Baron of Pontefract, 7th Baron of Halton, 7th Lord of Bowland, was the son of John FitzRichard and the grandson of Albreda de Lissours. He adopted surname de Lacy. In addition to inheriting his grandmother's vast holdings, Robert also inherited his father's hereditary title of Constable of Chester and the Barony of Halton with Halton Castle and the lordship of Donington in Leicestershire. In 1205 he purchased the barony of Penwortham By the time of Walter's death, he held blocks of land in Herefordshire (including Holme Lacy) along the border with Wales with another group of lands centered on Ludlow in Shropshire. These groupings allowed Walter to help defend the England–Wales border against Welsh raids. He also had smaller holdings in Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire. Walter was second in the region only to William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford and his son, Roger de Breteuil although he was not subordinate to them. After the latter's rebellion against the king in 1075 (which Walter de Lacy helped to ensure failed) Walter became the leading baron in the region.

Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath (before 1135 – 25 July 1186) was the great grandson of Walter de Lacy of the Norman Conquest. Walter (before 1170 to 24 February 1240/41), 2nd Lord of Meath, 5th Baron de Lacy of Longtown, Weobley and Ludlow, eldest son of Hugh, married Margaret de Braose. Egidia de Lacy, Lady of Connacht, daughter of 2nd Lord, married Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught and Strathearn. Her descendants include the Earls of Ulster (of the second creation) and Lady Elizabeth de Burgh, the wife of Robert the Bruce. Gilbert de Lacy, son of Walter, married Isabel Bigod, daughter of Sir Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk. He predeceased his father before 25 December 1230. Walter de Lacy son of Gilbert, married Rohese le Botiller but had no issue. Margery (Margaret) de Lacy, daughter of Gilbert, married Sir John de Verdun, the son of Theobald le Botiller, 2nd Chief Butler of Ireland and Rohese de Verdun. As co heir with her sister to her grandfather's estates, she received Westmeath as her inheritance. Maud de Lacy, daughter of Gilbert, married Lord Geoffrey de Geneville, Justiciar of Ireland, the son of Simon de Joinville, Seneschal of Champagne, and Beatrix of Burgundy. As co heir with her sister to her grandfather's estates, she received the eastern part of the lordship as her inheritance. Geoffrey de Geneville (died 1283), son of Maud. Joan de Geneville, daughter of Maud, who married Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1287). Sir Piers de Geneville (1256 – shortly before June 1292), son of Maud, married in 1283 Jeanne of Lusignan. Joan de Geneville, 2nd Baroness Geneville, daughter of Sir Piers de Geneville, who married Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March. Mortimer, by his vigorous action in Ireland, succeeded in re uniting the two halves of the Lordship of Meath. Hugh de Lacy, 1st Earl of Ulster (before 1179 – after 26 December 1242), younger son of Hugh de Lacy, was created Earl of Ulster in 1205. Rose de Lacy (died after 1237), married Alan, Lord of Galloway (died 1234).