De Vere family

The De Vere family were an English aristocratic family which have derived their surname from Ver (dep. Manche, arr. Coutances, cant. Gavray), in Lower Normandy, France. The family's Norman founder in England, Aubrey (Albericus) de Vere, appears in Domesday Book (1086) as the holder of a large fief in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Suffolk. His son and heir Aubrey II became master chamberlain of England, a hereditary office, in 1133. His grandson Aubrey III became earl of Oxford in the reign of King Stephen, but while his earldom had been given by the Empress Matilda and eventually recognized by Stephen, it was not until Jan. 1156 that it was formally recognized by Henry II and he began to receive the third penny of justice from Oxfordshire.

For many centuries the family was headed by the Earl of Oxford until the death of the 20th earl in 1703.

Among the offices the family held besides the master chamberlainship were the forestership of Essex, and they founded the Essex religious houses of Colne Priory, Hatfield Broad Oak Priory, Castle Hedingham Priory.

Twenty males headed the family as Earl of Oxford from 1141 to 1703:

This summary genealogical tree shows how the house of de Vere is related:

Arms of notable members of the de Vere family:

Arms de Vere, earls of Oxford

Arms of Hugh de Vere ("Huë de Ver")

Coat of Arms of Sir Robert de Vere, 9th Earl of Oxford, 1st Duke of Ireland, KG

Coat of arms of Sir Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford, KG

Coat of arms of Sir John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford

Arms of Sir John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford, KG

...
Wikipedia