Peter Morley (English) = Pierre de Morlaix (Norman-French) ???

The Ancient History of the Distinguished Surname Perkins by James Fulton Perkins

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sonyapl/essay/perkins_essay...

:snip:

It is at this point where we pick up the story of the present day Perkins. The last generation to use the original spelling of Morlaix in or around 1331 was the family of one Pierre de Morlaix of Shropshire, England. He appears to have been born 1312 in Bretagne, Morliax, Normandy, France and died about 1384 in Shropshire, England. His name indicates that although originally from Morlaix, Normandy, France he was part of the Celtic/Welsh group previously mentioned who migrated to England. During this time period surnames were not in common use. Everybody was known by some personal characteristic such as what they did, who there father was or where they came from, hence Pierre de Morlaix was from Morlaix, France. Attaining a high position within English society, Pierre became the High Steward of the Hugo de Spencer Estate of Oxfordshire, England (later known as the House of Spencer, of whom Princes Diana was a daughter).

Pierre changed his name to the English translated version "Peter Morley" when Charles V, the Black Prince of France renewed the Hundred Years War with England. This war was disrupting English shipping, compromising trade with Spain and the Netherlands and persecuting English subjects on the mainland in many ways. Because of the French victory at the Battle of Hastings, Frenchmen became persona-non-grata in England so to conceal his French origins Pierre changed his name to the English translation, Peter Morley. (1312-1384)

Unwilling to end the heritage of the deMorlaix name, when Peter (Pierre de Morlaix) Morley married Agnes Taylor, daughter of John Taylor of Madresield, Worcestershire, England, they had a son. He was to be named Henry Pierrekin (meaning "first son of Pierre", born 1340 in Shropshire, England and died in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England). The "kin" suffix indicates the eldest son in a family and any subsequent sons are simply called with the suffix "son", as in "Pierreson". Hence, the first son is Pierrekin and the second son of Peter (Pierre) Morley would be "Pierreson".

Henry Pierrekin altered the name further, again to disguise the French origin, becoming the very English Henry Pierkyn. When Henry married his eldest son was to be called John Perkyns (born 1360 in Madresfield, Worcestershire, England and died 05 Jan 1400 in the same place); again the suffix to indicate the eldest but changed from "kin" to "kyns". John became quite well educated and began often signing his name as John Perkins. Now as the prosperous John Perkins, Esquire he attained the position of Lord of the manor of Madrasfield as well as High Steward of the deSpencers at the passing of his father Henry. Thus began the spelling carried by all subsequent generations.

The new, and very English, John Perkins, grandson of Pierre deMorlaix, became Amiger and Seneschal to Thomas, Duke of Glouchester and with the Duke's influence the Crown granted John the right to bear arms. He was the first Perkins to own a Coat of Arms.

The oldest known Coat of Arms, which is pictured below, appears upon the tomb of Francis Perkins of Ufton, England, who was born in 1582. The fesse dancette between six billets is the original granted to John Perkyns (Perkins).

Therefore, there have been many Coat of Arms for the Perkins family, as with any other family.