General Notes

Venables, a baronial name from Venables near Evereux in Normandy, France.The family does not appear under this name in Normandy, its proper namebeing le Venour or Venatori, so named from the office of Veneur orVenator derived from Vanabulum, a hunting spear, or more properly a boarspear, which reflects his origin. Being from a line of hereditaryhuntsmen or Venero of the Norman Dukes. In Normandy there was Arnulph,Gislebert, Gaufridus, Hugh and Richard Venator in Normandy in 1180-1195.Waller de Veneur was eminently distinguished in 960 at the battle of theFords between Lothair, King of France, and the Normans, where he rescuedDuke Robert I of Normandy.
Gislebert Venator or de Venables was one of three brothers who came toEngland with Hugh Lupus, first Earl of Cheshire, Eng. He was ancestor ofthe Barons of Kinderton, of whom Gislebert Venables of Cheshire ismentioned in 1180 as Gislebert Venator of Normandy, proving theconnection between the English and French Venables, His Frenchdescendants bore argent a bend azure fretty or for difference. He waswith William the Conqueror and his name is on the Roll of Battle Abbey.Showing still further the proof of his French origin, Gislebert deVenables, on the division of the spoils after the battle of Hastings, hereceived his share under the name of Venator, and many English recordsrefer to him under this name. He received extensive estates and was oneof the English Barons attached to the Earldom of Chester under HughLupus, Earl of Chester.