Important family
The Lempriere family, long associated with Rosel Manor has been arguably the second most important in the history of Jersey after the de Carterets. It has provided a significant number of Bailiffs and, in the years when holders of that office were non-resident and appointed Lieut-Bailiffs to represent them, further important 'first citizens'.
One such, Charles Lempriere, was the founder of the Charlots, a political party which together with the opposing Magots, dominated island politics for a long period.
Origin of Surname
There are two stories concerning the origins of the name, one comes undocumented from France the other from Jersey, in the writings of J Bertrand Payne.
The French associate the name with an annual village archery competition. The winner was known as the "Emperor" and the loser the "Empress": 'l'Empereur' and 'l'Imperatrice' respectively.
Payne, however, writing in 1862 has a far more romantic tale to tell. In 864 AD the Viking Rollo was returning from an expedition low on food, so he decided to replenish his stores by pillaging the settlement that is now Oslo. Their King, enraged at this action, banished Rollo and his followers from the land. They sailed off first to the Hebrides, then to southern England, and finally to northern France.
They made a considerable nuisance of themselves there by suppressing the local population, sacking large towns, and making no less than three attempts to take Paris. In order to diffuse the situation, the Frankish king, Charles III (the Simple), negotiated a peace. In return for a cessation in hostilities, Rollo was granted the area of land now known as Upper Normandy and he would have to pay homage to the king. Rollo would also be baptised and marry the king's daughter.
When Rollo went to meet the king he was asked to kiss the royal foot, a duty he declined, delegating the task to one of his followers. When this Viking approached the royal person, he grasped the foot and instead of stooping low, lifted it to his mouth, toppling the king from his seat! The nickname of Emperor was given to the warrior, in recognition of his diplomatic skills! The name has been corrupted to Lempriere.
The accuracy of this tale may be uncertain but it seems to be based around historical fact. Payne quotes William of Malmesbury and Dudo.
In a modification of this story, a jester at the Court of King Rollo, in trying to amuse the king, asked if he could take the title King if he were to overthrow Rollo.With Rollo in fits of laughter, the jester grabbed the king’s foot and threw him over the throne, saying “ I have overthrown the king, I am the King”! After the king forgave him, he allowed him to take the title “l’Empereur”, the Emperor, which wasn’t a title for the Vikings!
Family Origin
The family traces its origins back to 970 AD in the Morfontaine province of Champagne and Brie in what is now Normandy. There are two ancestral groups: those who settled on Jersey in 1270 AD, emigrating from Normandy; and those who remained in France, but emigrated to Jersey later. It is not known if these are connected. Some still remain in France. There are three main branches of the Jersey family: Rozel, Trinity, and St John La Hougue Boete. There are few remaining in Jersey, but there is a large group in Australia, as well as groups in New Zealand, USA, Canada, and the UK. Many of these groups have not been connected to the main family tree.
Lemperière exists in Normandy to this day. Lemprière only arises in families that have come from Jersey. The name Lemprière appeared in Jersey in the early 1300s when Thomas dropped the use of “de”, and continues to this day.
Payne's Armorial of Jersey
A detailed history of the family is included in this work. See full article.
Variants
- Lempriere, 1299
- Lamprier 1515
- Lemperer 1378
- Lemperiere 1363
- Lemperere, 1309
- Lempere, 1329
- Lemperor c1328
- l'Empereur
- Lempreur
- Lemprere
- de Lempriere
- dit Le Emperere 1274
- dictus Imperator 1274
- Imperator, 1180
Family records
Family trees
- Descendants of Everard de Lempriere (970)
- Descendants of Raoulin Lempriere (1420)
- Descendants of George Lempriere (1430)
- Descendants of Helier Lempriere and Jane Gilbert
- Descendants of Hugh Lempriere, Sara Dumaresq and Jeanne Herault
- Ancestors and descendants of John Lempriere, a tree combining elements of other trees to show the ancestors and descendants of classical scholar John Lempriere
- Descendants of Thomas Lempriere
- Descendants of Gilbert Lempriere
- Descendants of Michel Lempriere
- Descendants of Michel Lempriere - 2, a different Michel
- Descendants of Amice Lempriere
- The Lemprieres of Dielament Manor, and the family which still owns the fief after over 600 years
Church records
- Lempriere baptisms in Jersey
- Lempriere marriages in Jersey (groom)
- Lempriere marriages in Jersey (bride)
- Lempriere burials in Jersey
Family histories and biographies
- Lemprieres, Seigneurs of Diélament by the Rev J A Messervy
- Lempriere family, a history of the family
- Lemprieres of St John by the Rev J A Messervy
- Lempriere family in the 16th century, another history Added 2016
- Letter from John Lempriere to his brother Thomas in Lisbon Added 2016
- Raoul Lempriere, Bailiff 1362
- Jean Lempriere Bailiff 1524
- Jean Lempriere, Bailiff 1434
- Thomas Lempriere, Bailiff 1495
- Fire at house of Bailiff Thomas Lempriere
- Renaud Lempriere, Seigneur of Rosel
- Michel Lempriere, Republican Bailiff
- Clement Lempriere, Bailiff 1528-29
- Charles Lempriere, Lieut-Bailiff
- Charles Lempriere and descendants
- Charles Lempriere and Trinity Added 2022
- William Charles Lempriere, Lieut-Bailiff
- Philippe Lempriere, Attorney-General
- Reginald Raoul Lempriere, Jurat
- Nicolas Lempriere, physician
- John Lempriere, classical scholar
- Thomas Lempriere Militia Colonel
- Charles Lempriere writer and politician
- Clement Lempriere, cartographer and artist
- James Lempriere, Captain RN
- The Rev John Lempriere, classical scholar
- Arthur Reid Lempriere, artist's model and general
- Lemprieres in Australia and Tasmania, a renowned artist and his wool merchant descendants
- Anne Lempriere, who emigrated to New Zealand
Newspaper records
Société Jersiaise Library records
- Lempriere records in La Société Jersiaise Library Added 2018
- Bertram records in La Société Jersiaise Library, including references to members of the Lempriere family Added 2018
Great War service
Family wills
Burial records
Family homes
- Rosel Manor
- La Motte Manor
- Maison de St Jean
- Dielament, one of Jersey's most important fiefs and manor houses
- St John's Manor
- Augres Farm, Trinity
Family businesses
1948
Family album
Mrs Lempriere
R R Lempriere
Ann Aubin, nee Lempriere
Ann Aubin, nee Lempriere
Ann Aubin, nee Lempriere
W C Lempriere
Phyllis Ada Lempriere, daughter of John Philip (1869- ) and Lydia Ann, nee Le Marquand (1868- )was born in St Peter in 1905 and married Frank Rabet (1896- )
Frank Rabet and Phyllis Lempriere
Stella Lempriere, sister of Phyllis Ada
Stella Lempriere, born in St Peter in 1897
Marianne Lempriere (1801-1870), born in St Helier and married to Algernon Herbert (1792-1855)
Gladys Ada Lempriere (1893- ), sister of Phyllis and Stella, with her husband Philip Gough Carre (1895- )
Raoul Lempriere
R R Lempriere
A postcard sent to Miss Lempriere in Minden Place in 1905
Another postcard sent to Miss Lempriere the same year
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Occupation curfew cards
Curfew pass issued to Sidney Lempriere during the Occupation as a member of the St Saviour Honorary Police [1]
Lempriere coats of arms
Family gravestones
Almorah cemetery
Almorah cemetery
Almorah cemetery
Trinity Church cemetery
Old Mont a l’Abbe cemetery
Mont a l’Abbe cemetery
Mont a l’Abbe cemetery
Mont a l’Abbe cemetery
Mont a l’Abbe cemetery
Mont a l’Abbe cemetery
St Ouen parish cemetery
St Ouen parish cemetery
St Ouen parish cemetery
St Ouen parish cemetery
St Ouen parish cemetery
Surville Cemetery
Surville Cemetery
St Brelade Church cemetery
Trinity
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Notes and references
- ↑ These cards are held by Jersey Archive. Visit The Archive online catalogue for more information. A subscription may be needed to view some of the site's content
