Origins of the Vernon Name & Family
The Vernon family took their name from the town of Vernon in the department of Eure, Haute-Normandia, France, located around 40 miles south of Rouen and 45 miles west of Paris. At what period the family took up residence in Vernon prior to their arrival in England is not known, and a lack of contemporary evidence makes determining the relationships between the various Vernons mentioned very difficult.
The progenitor of the English branch of the Vernon family was one Richard de Vernon*, who came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. He is thought to have fought at the Battle of Hastings with his relatives, possibly his brothers, Walter and Hugh de Vernon. For his services and loyalty to King William, he was rewarded with numerous manors. In 1086, at the time of Domesday, these included Shropham in Norfolk (held of the Earl of Chester) and in Cheshire the manors of Ashton (near Tarvin), Audlem, Bostock, Bredbury, Cogshall, Crewe, Davenham, Hooton, Leftwich, Moulton, Picton, Shipbrook, Shurlach and Wharton. His seat was at Shipbrook, and he was made first Baron of Shipbrook by the Earl of Chester.
As well as inheriting his principal estates in Cheshire, Richard's descendants also held land at Harlaston in Staffordshire, Chinnor and Sydenham in Oxfordshire and Croxton in Cambridgeshire.
The baronetcy of Shipbrook eventually descended to Richard de Vernon's great-great-grandson Warin de Vernon (fl. 1162-1205), whereas Warin's brother Richard married a co-heiress of Haddon in the Peak District, establishing that branch of the family.
*This Richard de Vernon is not to be confused with Richard de Reviers, also sometimes known as Richard de Vernon, who was the ancestor of the Earls of Devon.