The Early History of the Luttrells
(before and during the time of Sir Geoffrey Luttrell)
"Luttrell, originally spelt Luterel, or Loterel, was probably a diminutive of Loutre, the French word for otter. Applied in the first instance as a personal nickname, it became a hereditary surname. The fact that a certain Osbert Lotrel had the farm of Arques in Normandy in 1180 and 1198 rather tends to confirm the idea that the family was of foreign origin.*1
Osbert Lotrel is referred to as the "praepositus" (Chief) of Arques.*2
In 1204 Arques Castle,Arques-la-Bataille Castle, was the last Norman stronghold to surrender to Philip II of France (during the reign of King John), who had fruitlessly layed siege to it 2 years before.*3
Robert Lotrel and Hugh his son were benefactors to the Abbey of Barberie, Normandy, at its foundation (Gall. Christ, xi. 85 Instr.). *4
Barbery is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of north-western France
The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: The old Cistercian Abbey of Notre-Dame of Barbery (12th century) founded by Robert Marmion in 1181.*5
*1 From A History of Dunster by H. C. Maxwell-Lyte, pg. 59 Rotuli Scaccarii Normannice (ed. Stapleton), vol. i. p. 65; vol. ii. p. 422.
A certain John Loutrel of Dieppe is mentioned as a subject of the French King in 1419. Three years later, Robert Loterel was presented to a church near Bayeux.
Norman Rolls, 6 Hen. V. part 2, mm. 40, I; 9 Hen. V. m. 5.
*2 Magni rotuli scaccarii Normanniæ sub regibus Angliæ By Great Britain Exchequer, Thomas Stapleton
*3 https://www.castles.nl/arques-bataille-castle
*4 The Norman people and their existing descendants in the British dominions and the United States of America
by Sir Matthew Hale 1874
*5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbery,_Calvados
The name of Luttrell does not occur in Domesday Book. It is almost needless to remark that the Roll of Battle Abbey, in which it is to be found, has no historical authority."
H. C. Maxwell-Lyte in A History of Dunster
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of Hoton Pagnel, Yorkshire
during the reigns of Henry I and Stephen, abt. 1100 - 1150
(unsubstantiated information)
