The first member of the family of Heriz to hold land here seems to have been Henry. William de Heriz granted 2 oxgangs of land in Claxton, which had belonged to Henry de Heriz, to St. Giles Hospital in the late 12th or early 13th century. (fn. 48) Leo son of William de Heriz was a contemporary of Walter de Musters, (fn. 49) and was probably the Leo who was sheriff of Durham under Bishop Philip (1197–1208) and mentioned as a tenant in the bishopric in 1211. (fn. 50) He must also be identified with the Leo de Heriz who assigned to the Prior of Durham 2 oxgangs as the endowment of a chapel at Claxton. A later prior released them to his grandson Leo in 1233–44. (fn. 51) The latter was called Leo de Claxton, (fn. 52) and was probably succeeded by the Sir William de Heriz who lived at Claxton in 1264.
From: 'Parishes: Greatham', A History of the County of Durham: Volume 3 (1928), pp. 242-47. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42628. Date accessed: 07 March 2007.