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Concerning the Norman family of de la Haye, Thurstin Haldup,[1](Hay, 1994) a Norman nobleman of the first half of the eleventh century, i.e., just before the Norman conquest of England in 1066, held two baronies, one of which was La Haye du Puits in the Cotentin. On becoming a Christian, he changed his name to Richard and became known as Richard de La Haye. Richard's eldest son, Eldoun, apparently fought at the Battle of Hastings. Richard died in 1096 and was succeeded by his nephew, Robert, who was the ancestor of the Hays who became Norman barons in England.

It is Robert's younger brother, Hue, who is most important to the Scottish Hays. He had a chateau near St Lo, also in the Cotentin, which was known then as La Haye Hue, but is now La Haye Bellefonde. He was also held other seigniories nearby. La Haye Hue was just across the small Soules River from the chateau of Soules, south of St Lo. This close proximity to Soules is important in the historical relationship of the Hays with the de Soulis family.

Early on, the Haye-Hue family adopted for their arms, argent three inescutcheons gules(a silver shield containing three smaller red shields). These are the same arms as presently used by the Earl of Errol in Scotland and are completely different from those used by the de la Hayes of England. This is good evidence that the first recorded de la Haye in Scotland, William II de la Haye, who used these same arms, was from the Haye-Hue family. However, his genealogical descent has not yet been traced to them.

The Hays were linked to the powerful Soulis family. As evidence, first, there is the close proximity of the chateaus of the two families in Normandy. Second, the Soulis name, rare in England, and the more common Hay, are both found in the records of Dover Castle in the early 13th century. Third, William II de la Haye’s mother was Juliana de Soules and he was the nephew of Ranulf de Soulis, Pincerna or butler to King David I of Scotland.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hay, 1994, pp.5–6
  • Hay, A (1994), “Some thoughts on the origin of the Scottish Hays.”, Clan Hay Newsletter 28
  • Hay, A (1994), “Some thoughts on the origin of the Scottish Hays.”, Clan Hay Newsletter 28 
  • Wagner, A R. The origin of the Hays of Erroll. Clan Hay Magazine, Vol 1. No.6 , circa 1952 ,pp 17-28.