French as the name sounds, it is not to be found anywhere in that country today. George Balleine believes that the Hamptonne family originated in Southampton. G.F.B. de Gruchy, however, writes regarding the surname being probably introduced from England: "This is not certain, since the surname occurs in Normandy before the separation from England....The Armorial attributes the origin of the family to Thomas de Hampton, Guardian of the Islands in 1341, but it may equally have been derived from Nicolas Hanton, Receiver General, 1350, or from one of the five soldiers serving in the Castle from 1342-1345, Petrus de Hamptonne, Nicolas, Roger, Bartholomew and John de Hampton, who figure in a list containing both Jersey and English names."
It should not be forgotten, however, that for more than three centuries after the Norman conquest of 1066, England was ruled, governed and administered by Norman settlers, as well as by the descendants of the Conqueror`s companions. These men increasingly adopted as surnames the names of their newly-acquired English manors and baronies. Others, perhaps administrators, adopted the names of English towns in which they lived. Their original, Norman, surnames frequently fell into disuse. It is therefore difficult to determine from an "English" surname of the 14th or 15th century, whether its bearer was in fact English, (Anglo-Saxon), or Norman. Certainly, someone appointed by the Crown to be Warden or Governor of a strategically important cluster of Norman-speaking islands, such as the Channel Islands, would have needed to be one of the King's Norman-speaking subjects.
Early records
It is most likely that the first Hamptonne in Jersey was Thomas de Hamptonne, Warden of the Isles from 1343-1345. It is suggested that the Thomas whose descendancy is shown below was the son of the Warden, but it is more than likely that he was actually the Warden, himself.
Payne's Armorial of Jersey
The patronymic of this family indicates an English origin*, but it has been located in Jersey from a very early date. Its supposed insular founder, Thomas De Hamptonne, was Keeper or Governor of the Norman Isles in 1343. William De Hamptonne was Lieutenant-Bailly of Jersey in 1470, and again filled the same office in 1499. This William was Seigneur of the fiefs es Hastains, Godeliere, and Luce-de-Carteret, on which former was the original home of the family.
In 1602, however, this estate became possessed by the house of Bisson, when the Hamptonnes migrated to an estate formerly possessed by Richard Langlois, which they called after their own name. In 1510 Nicholas de Hamptonne was Lieutenant-Bailly of the island.
In the same century, his brother, Sire Louis Hamptonne, Rector of St Lawrence and Vice-Dean of Jersey, erected an additional chapel to his parish church of St Laurence, where in the bosses of the roof his armorial bearings still exist. This same individual gave two quarters of wheat rent for ever, the proceeds to be applied to the repair of the roads of the same parish; and effected so much of good for the island generally, as to deserve a well-merited eulogium from Chevalier the Chronicler.
Charles II
But the high and palmy days of Hamptonne and its owners were when Charles II, then Prince of Wales, accepted and enjoyed the hospitality of Laurens Hamptonne, Vicomte of Jersey, and of Edward Hamptonne, his son. Whether from the official position of the former as Sheriff of Jersey, or from a kindred spirit that the young and debonair Prince discovered in his hosts, they were indebted for the honour of the personal friendship and the familiar companionship of their future King, no contemporary writer has informed us.
But true it is that perhaps no other insular family could boast of more intercourse with, and devotion to, the Royal Refugee from avowed enemies and faithless friends, than the denizens of Hamptonne. Relics of his stay are still religiously preserved by the chief representative of the family, and the present owner of its house. Here are still various articles of the monarch's clothing, and a pair of his silver spurs; the bed on which he slept, and the embroidered quilt that covered him; the carved oak table and chair which he used; and a seal on which are the Hamptonne arms, which the King is said personally to have presented to his entertainers.
But by far the most important of these Loyalist mementoes is the original draught of the document which proclaimed Charles II, King of Great Britain, on the reception of the news of the execution of his father.
It cannot be doubted but that the enthusiasm engendered by his personal friendship for the King led Laurens Hamptonne to canvass the friends of the Stuart dynasty, and to obtain their signatures to this document: a labour and a risk which he lost no time in consummating by formally proclaiming Charles II, in his capacity as Vicomte, at the Cross in the Market Place of St Helier.
The heroism and steadfastness of the men who signed this Proclamation disclaims comment, for at this period, specie, never plentiful in Jersey, was particularly scarce, owing to the exigencies of the struggle then pending. Therefore its subscribers, by this confession of faith, not only exposed their property to confiscation, themselves and their families to ignominy, and perhaps to death, but in addition, were well aware that they could neither sell their local property, nor, in most cases, even procure the money necessary for their escape from the island.
Extinct branches
The male eldest branch of the family is extinct, and is represented by George Syvret, of Hamptonne, an estate entailed by Patent, and held by Knight's service, by the families of Poingdestre, of Grainville, Patriarche, and La Cloche; and by Dr Hoskins, of Guernsey.
Another branch of the family long located at Hamptonne, in the parish of St Peter, is also extinct, and is represented by the descendants of Elizabeth, wife of Philip Falle, and by those of Margaret, wife of Amice Alexandre, eventual co-heiresses of John Hamptonne, and sisters of John Hamptonne.
Variants
- Hamptonne, 1528
- de Hamptonne 1502
- Hanthonne 1515
- de Hamptone
- Hamptoun c1340
- de Hamptonne
Family records
Family trees
Other Hamptonne trees which were all included in the first tree here have now been deleted
Church records
- Hamptonne baptisms in Jersey
- Hamptonne marriages in Jersey (groom)
- Hamptonne marriages in Jersey (bride)
- Hamptonne burials in Jersey
Histories and biographies
- Laurens Hamptonne, Viscount during the English Civil War
Family wills
These wills created by members of the Hamptonne family are now held by Jersey Archive. By visiting the archive site and using the names, dates and reference numbers shown here, it is possible to view a copy of each will. You will have to subscribe to the Archive's online service to do this. To find out more about this collection, which covers the period from 1663 to 1980, and how to search for your family's wills there, visit our Jersey wills page
- Abraham Hamptonne of St Lawrence, desires to be buried in St Lawrence Cemetery, bequeaths to the poor of St Lawrence, 6 livres of old currency 16 July 1853 - D/Y/A/28
- Guillaume Hamptonne and Marie Le Valton 21 February 1671 - D/Y/A/1
- Sophie Hamptonne of St Helier - 13 January 1887, D/Y/A/46
Burial records
Properties
- Hamptonne - La Patente
- Le Manoir de Malorey, St Lawrence
- Manor House, St Lawrence
- Hamptonne, St Peter
- Hamptonne, St Clement
Family gravestones
Click on any image to see a larger version. See the Jerripedia gravestone image collection page for more information about our gravestone photographs
St Lawrence
St Lawrence
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