Life History

Notes

• Various historical sources and reconstructions tell us that Roland, or Roald, first established the family known as Le Strange or L'Estrange in Norfolk, England, in the 1100s, under the rule of the Normans.  The Normans were Vikings who some generations before had settled in a part of Gaul which had come under the domination of the Franks after the Roman decline.  The section where these Northmen settled came to be known as Northmandie, known today as Normandy.  His name appears as Roald in some sources.
  
  It seems that Roland and his friend Alan fitz Flaad came to Norfolk along with Henry, son of William I, when the heir to the Norman throne of England died in a hunting accident.  The next son Henry became the heir, and established himself as Henry I of England.  Henry was the son of Matilda the Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, husband of William of Normandy, who became William I of England.
  
  One source reports Roland born in Cheswardine, in Shropshire (Welsh border area).  But Burke's Peerage reports him born in Mileham, Norfolk (though possibly of Breton origins).  Burke's Peerage (cited by many sources), along with other sources, indicates he came to Norfolk with his friend, Alan fitz Flaad (or Fleald), and was a tenant on lands of Alan in Mileham.  Others report him born in Shrophshire, but I now also doubt that is correct.  Burke also notes that it is not even certain -- though he came to Britain from Brittany -- that he is actually of Breton origin.
  
  He married the daughter of Ralph fitz (son of) Herlewin (or De Hunstanton).  Maud is also referred to by the name Matilda.  Her mother was Helwise, daughter of Hugh de Plaiz of Bernham, Suffolk, according to Complete Peerage XII/1:347-8.  His son Hamon was granted lands in Cheswardine in Salopshire.   His son Guy served as Sheriff of Salop 1159-60, and owned land in Alveley, Salop.
  
  Roland's Latin name is given on the family website as Rolleus.  His Latin name Rolleus Extraneus developed in the common language as Roland Le Strange (with many variations on both names).  This family name is spelled many ways today. Some common forms are:  Strange, Strang, Straunge, Strong, LeStraunge, Le Straunge, L'Estrange and Le Strange.
  
  The dates given by the Norfolk Le Strange family are earlier than those reported by the Corbet-Le Strange genealogy on the Hart Family Website.  The former does not report all dates, but shows an estimated death date for Roland of about 1135, compared to the date of about 1158 given by the latter.
  
  The Le Strange Website begins the Hunstanton family line with Roland.  Even though the early Le Stranges are associated with Hunstanton in Norfolk, children are born in Shropshire, on the border with Wales.  The first Barony was established at Knockin in Shropshire.  The Barony of Hunstanton was established later.
  
  Dates for this couple given by the Hunstanton Le Strange Family Website are earlier than those reported by the Hart-Corbet-Le Strange genealogy and background information.  No birth or death dates are given for Matilda, but the marriage date is 1112, compared with 1141 given by the Hart Family Website.

Sources

• 1. Our Folk, Albert D Hart
  • http://www.renderplus.com/hartgen/htm/le-strange.htm
• 2. Senderling Genealogy
  • Name: Name: http://www.freemarket-phone.com/dat111.htm;;
• 3. Le Strange GeneaNet
  • M Berger, http://gw.geneanet.org/index.php3?b=mberger256&lang=en;p=roland;n=le+strange
• 4. Le Strange Website - No Longer Online
• 5. Michel Hourman, Le Strange Genealogy
  • http://gw1.geneanet.org/index.php3?b=hourmanmichel&lang=en;pz=alexis+tancrede+michel+benoit+diego;nz=de+pierpont+de+riviere;ocz=0;p=roald;n=le+strange
• 6. Astill Family Tree
• 7. Our Folk, Albert D Hart