General Notes

ROBERT DE MEINILL (b), the first member of this family in England of whom there is record (c), held property in Yorkshire much of which formed part of the Mortain fee at the time of Domesday. He was probably the founder of the original castle at Whorlton in that county. He granted the vill of Myton-on-Swale to St. Mary's Abbey, York, circa 1100-1106. With his wife Gertrude he granted the church of Great Ayton to Whitby Abbey in the time of Abbot William, circa 1109; this was confirmed by their son Stephen de Meinill circa 1130-50.

Robert married Gertrude, probably daughter of Nele FOSSARD and sister of Robert FOSSARD. He died before 1135. His widow m. Jordan PAYNEL.  [Complete Peerage VIII:619-20, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

[b] The name was variously spelt Meinill, Meisnil, Mesnil, Meignil, Masnil, Mennelle, Menill, &c. . . There appears to be no documentary evidence that the Meinills of Langley Meinill, co. Derby, were similarly connected [to this family].  They were descended from Hugh de Meinill, living circa 1251, steward to William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, and his descendant Sir Hugh de Meinill was summoned for military service to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in Apr 1327.

(c) He was probably of Norman extraction.  William Brown gives reasons for supposing that he came from the arrondissement of Coutances in the department of Manche.  It may, however, be noted that circa 1205 a Stephen de Meinnil, knight (his Christian name is possibly suggestive), was a juror relating to the rights belonging to the castelries of Evereux and Gaillon.