The Falaise Roll lists the Norman knights who accompanied William, Duke of Normandy, at the Conquest in 1066, and included on that Roll is Ralph de Mortimer.
There are many interpretations of the evidence as to the genealogy of Ralph de Mortimer; the one selected here would appear to be the most probable.
Given this genealogy, it was Ralph's father, Roger, grandson of Hugh, Bishop of Coutance, who first assumed the name of "Mortimer".
In 1054, the then king of France attacked Normandy on two fronts; Roger was to defend the eastern boundary, and it was at the village of Mortemer-sur-Eulme, just to the east of Neuchatel-en-Bray, that Roger defeated the French forces.
In recognition of this victory, Roger was granted the title of "de Mortemer".
After the conquest, Ralph de Mortemer was given a share of the responsibility for defending the Welsh Marches, and established a stronghold at Wigmore on the Shropshire/Herefordshire border with Wales.
Ralph had three children; a daughter named Hawise; Hugh,the elder son, who inherited the Lordship of Wigmore and later that of Ludlow, and established the powerful English political family of Mortimer; and William, the younger son, who founded the line of the Mortimers of Attleborough: It is, (I believe), from this line that the name of Mortimer was introduced into Scotland.
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