Early History of the Rundells

 

When Harold and the Saxons were defeated at Hastings in 1066 by William the Conqueror and the Normans, its very possible the Rundell/Rundle name was introduced into England in the South East of the Country, as there appears to be an entry in the Doomsday Book, (The first Census carried out by William between 1085 - 1086) at that time. Possibly from the French - rond - meaning round or fat.

The more likely explanation or possible origin of the Rundell/Rundle name dates back the Fourteenth century. There was a small manor near Cobham in  Kent called Roundale or Rundale. This area is now called Randall Wood and is shown on maps as a nature reserve located in Kent between the A226 and the A2 where it becomes the M2 at junction 1. Cobham lies on the south side of the A2.

A distinguished local family lived here and was headed by Stephen de Cobham de Rundale, who in 1326 became Baron Rundell. After the death of his son John, the second Baron Rundell in 1362, the title became extinct even though John had two sons Thomas and John. The Rundell name gradually died out in this part of England. However, in 1301 John de Cobham de Rundale of Devon had inherited through marriage, the ownership of the Manor of Hilton near Launceston and property at Trematon in Cornwall, as well as two manors in south-west Devon. The Cobhams de Rundale died out in Kent but it seems very likely that this family was the source of the many Rundles in Milton Abbot, Sydenham, Damerell and Lamerton in south-west Devon in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, where at one time owned or were holders of thirteen farms. It is quite likely that with the burgeoning of the family in that area, the Rundles of Antony were a pioneering section of these Devon farmers, and so the family succession leading to the Rundles/Rundells of Cornwall may well have been this:-

      1203; Henry de Cobham granted Manor of Cobham. 1245; John de Cobham acquires neighbouring Manor of Rundale with fifty acres.

      13th century; His son, Henry de Cobham de Rundale inherits Rundale.

      1326; His son, Stephen de Cobham de Rundale becomes first Baron Rundell.

      14th century; His son, John becomes second Baron Rundell.

      1429; His son, Sir Thomas is owner of Rundale.

      1301-1316; John de Cobham de Rundale acquires, through marriage, properties in south-west Devon .

      Early l4th century members of the family settle in south-west Devon .

      1539-1700; Many Rundles recorded in the Parish Registers of Lamerton, Milton Abbot and Sydenham Damerell..

      c1500; A section of the family splits and settle in Antony and nearby Maker.

      c1598; Rundle family spreads into other Parishes in the County of Cornwall .

 

The names Rundle and Rundell change frequently through history due to spelling and pronunciation differences, and are still prominent all over Cornwall.

Ceud Mile Failte