| What is this site about? |
| This site is
primarily concerned with the origin of the Scales
name among the Scandinavian Vikings and their
diaspora in Normandy and Ireland, and with the
history of the Scales nobility in the 450 years
following the Norman Conquest. Some present-day
Scaleses no doubt descend from the early noble
families even though none can by now establish a
direct line. I have integrated a lot of material
from different sources here and this is probably
the most comprehensive rendering of the
historical story of the Scales name in England in
one location on the Web. The site also includes
material on the historical della Scala
family of northern Italy, whose name has the same
origins. |
| I hope this
material proves interesting not only to Scaleses
out there; I have had much valuable feedback
already. I'd be grateful to hear of any further
information that could be used on the site. |
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| A
Quick Introduction |
| The Scales
name is Viking in origin and arrived in England
via two main routes: the expulsion of the Irish
Vikings leading to their migration to north-west
England and the Norman conquest (possibly also
from the invading Danes). The Italian della
Scala name has the same Scandinavian roots
and arrived in Italy via the Lombards, who had
Nordic origins. |
| The name
arrived among the English nobility with Hardwin
de Scalers, supporter of William the Conqueror.
His descendants split into two branches, one
headed by each of his sons, which we refer to as
the Reed/Whaddon and Shelford/Caxton branches. |
| The primary
line of the Reed/Whaddon branch in Hertfordshire
and Cambridgeshire terminated with the death of
Anne de Scalers in 1493. An important secondary
line of this branch became the
Middleton/Rivenhall branch in Norfolk and Essex.
This line became the Barons Scales and ended with
Robert 7th Baron Scales, the most famous member
of the family, and the death of his daughter
Elizabeth de Scales, sister-in-law of Edward IV,
in 1483. The primary line of the Shelford/Caxton
branch in Cambridgeshire terminated with the
death of Lucy de Scalers in 1256. |
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| The
Scales Coat of Arms |
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