Ranulph Baconthorpe

• Preferred Name: Ranulph Baconthorpe
  
• Gender: M
  
• Birth: ABT 1120
  
• Death: Y
  
• FSID: G8MP-DSV
  
• Notes:

  === Life Sketch ===
  «b»Biography«/b»
  The ancient and noble family of BACON is first identified in Normandy. Lowers' Patronymica Britannica says, "Bacon, a seignory in Normandy."
  
  "According to the genealogy of the great Suffolk family of Bacon, one GRIMBALD, a relative of the Norman chieftain William de Warrenne, came into England at the time of the Conquest and settled near Holt. His great-grandson is stated to have taken the name BACON. However, this was only an assumption of the ancient Norman surname which is still existing in the north of France. Wlliam Bacon, in 1082 endowed the Abbey of the Holy Trimity at Caen."
  
  In "Family Names and their Story", published by S. Baring Gould, he says that BACON comes from Bascoin, the family name of the Seigneurs of Molai. He speaks of William Bacon who founded the Abbey of the Holy Trinity as being Lord of Molai. Norman gentleman and knight related illegitimately to William the Conqueror - changed name to Bacon after the invasion.
  
  Came to England with William de Warrene, a relative. Granted lands at Letheringsett, Norfolk - "Leather Settlement" - may have been tanners.
  
  As has been said, one Grimbald came from Normandy at the time of the conquest and settled at Letheringsete near Holt in the county of Norfolk where he had grants of land. He had three sons: Rudolf, who became the Lord of Letheringsete; Ranulf, and Edmund. The latter was appointed rector of the Church of Letheringsete, which was founded by his father. The son Ranulf, or Reynolds, resided at Thorp, Norfolk. It has been stated that he was the one who assumed the name Bacon or Bacon-Thorpe, but some authorities attribute this name to his son Roger. There were several places called Thorp in Norfolk, and he added this name to distinguish him from other lords of Thorp. The name Bacon having been said to have been taken from the word buchen or beechen, meaning beech tree, we might call him lord of the beech tree village. The word Thorp is said to have been the saxon name for village.
  
  "Of this name there have been many persons of great account in former ages; but that particular family, of which we are now to treat, derive their descent from Grimbaldus who came into England at the time of the Norman conquest in company with William Earl Warren to whom he was related, which Grimbaldus had lands in Normandy, and after his arrival in England settled at Letheringsett near Holt in Norfolk, where he founded the church and made his second son Edmund parson of it. His other sons were Radulph and Ranulf.
  
  Roger, the son of Ranulph, was father of Robert, the first of the family we find mentioned by the name of Bacon, whose brother, William Bacon, was of Monks Bradfield in the county of Suffolk temp. Ric. I, which William is taken notice of among the knights bearing banners as well Normans as of other provinces in the reign of King Philip II of France; and by a daughter of Thomas Lord Bardolph was father of another William of the same place, whose son Adam lived in the time of Edw. I and left two sons, Wido Bacon of Bradfield, aforesaid, who died without issue, and Robert Bacon of Hessett, alias Hegesett, in the said county.
  
  Ranulph was born about 1120. Ranulph "Ralph" m. Unknown. Resided at Thorpe, County Norfolk, called Baconsthorpe by distinction. Cutter says he was known as Ralph de Bacons-Thorpe (thorp means village). In Colonial Families of the United States, Ralph is called "Ran(d)ulf." There were several places called Thorp in Norfolk and he added this name to distinguish him from other lords of Thorp.
  
  «b»Children:«/b»
  1.) George Bacon.
  
  2.) Roger Bacon.
  
  3.) Agnes Bacon.
  
  4.) Gilbert Bacon. Gilbert's direct line extends only five generation to Jordan, Adam, Peter and ends with Batrianus Yorkshire Bacon.

1. George Baconthorpe, b. ABT 1125 in Norfolk, England