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 name being le Venour or Venatori, so named from the office of Veneur or Venator derived from Vanabulum, a hunting spear, or more properly a boar spear, which reflects his origin. Being from a line of hereditary huntsmen 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 the Fords between Lothair, King of France, and the Normans, where he rescued Duke Robert I of Normandy.

Gislebert Venator or de Venables was one of three brothers who came to England with Hugh Lupus, first Earl of Cheshire, Eng. He was ancestor of the Barons of Kinderton, of whom Gislebert Venables of Cheshire is mentioned in 1180 as Gislebert Venator of Normandy, proving the connection between the English and French Venables, His French descendants bore argent a bend azure fretty or for difference. He was with William the Conqueror and his name is on the Roll of Battle Abbey. Showing still further the proof of his French origin, Gislebert de Venables, on the division of the spoils after the battle of Hastings, he received his share under the name of Venator, and many English records refer to him under this name. He received extensive estates and was one of the English Barons attached to the Earldom of Chester under Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester.