Background on the origin of the family name "Hathaway"
By Clyde W. Hathaway
St. Samson, descendant of kings of Brittany and Cornwall, left southern Wales in mid-500s AD and went to Dol, in Brittany, as a missionary. Followers went with him. He later became Bishop of Dol.
In 1064 William the Conqueror laid siege to Dol and took it. Three men of substance of Dol then allied themselves with William, taking part in the 1066 conquest of England under the banner of William FitzOsbern, who spearheaded the drive through southern Wales, into Herefordshire. These men were Baderon (Batrun), William son of Baderon and his uncle Wihenoc. William son of Baderon was a young squire at the time.
That these were men of importance is evidenced by the large number of manors and other holdings granted to them, especially to William son of Baderon. It is mystifying as to why he was granted so many holdings on the land King William had reserved for himself.
After the revolt of Earl Roger our 3 Bretons were placed in charge of Monmouth castle in southern Wales, near the English border. This became the main bailiwick of William son of Baderon.
Of the many manor holdings of William son of Baderon, two were of significance-- Heathway manor at Ruardean and Little Lydney (later St. Briavels), then in Gloucestershire, but later in Herefordshire. Heathway manor had been held by a West Saxon noble , who also bore the name "Heathway". (at that time "Hadweg" would have approximated the name.) This Heathway also held a manor at Wormesley-- in an administrative Hundred used to oversee exaction of tribute from the Welsh.
Back to our William-- he married a lady from the manor at Wormesley. (could it have been widow or daughter of Heathway?) Later he gave Wormesley manor as a dower for his eldest daughter.
In these times and before the Doomsday Book was written and before surnames came into usage, the eldest son was the only one deemed of importance and he received titles and major holdings. William left his title and holding of Monmouth castle to his eldest son, Baderon of Monmouth.
What evidence we have points to the probability that William had a younger son, William II, who held Heathway manor and Little Lydney (St. Briavels).
The Welsh of Gwent were closely allied with William son of Baderon at Monmouth castle, where William II was raised. In any event he married a Welsh lady of the Gwent descent.
When St. Briavels castle was built by Milo FitzWalter, to oversee the Royal Forest of Dean (and protect the Welsh border), a young man of good family was given the hereditary title of Constable of the Forest of Dean. He answered directly to the king and thus was a lesser Baron. His Foresters were also called constables, which has led to much confusion.
William II made his headquarters at Heathway, in Ruardean, 10 miles from St. Briavels. The castle was his "office". The fact that the castle was named "St. Briavels" seems to point to the influence of the Welsh wife of William II. St. Briavelstowe was the name of the ruins of the hermitage of an obscure Celtic Saint a short distance away.
William II and those who followed took the surname de Heathway, which became Hathway, Hathaway, Hatheway and other forms of the present day name.
The peerage line became extinct in 1377, due to death of Thomas Hathaway (1315-1377), from the Black Death. The title passed to Walwyn, Baynham, Vaughn and others.
July 1, 2000
Clyde W. Hathaway is a Vice President of the Hathaway Family Association and can be contacted by email to Cwhathaway@aol.com