History Pages - Family Origins The early history of the Stafford family was quite undistinguished. Ralph De Tonei, a Norman knight who had supported William I in his conquest of England, originally founded the family. Ralph was rewarded for his part in the invasion with over 100 confiscated manors throughout England; the principal one being Stafford, which they took as their seat of power. Since Ralph's father had rebelled against William in Normandy, these manors were prudently scattered throughout England, to prevent him becoming too strong on the Welsh Marches. As such, despite claims to be titular Lords of Stafford, Ralph's immediate descendants were prevented from controlling the town. The De Tonei's gradually became known as the Staffords, but did not achieve recognition until the outbreak of the Hundred Years War.
The Early Staffords, 1038-1403
Ralph de Tonei (d. 1038/9)
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Ralph de Tonei Robert Stafford (d.1088)
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Nicholas Stafford (d.1138)
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Robert Stafford (d.ca.1185)
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Robert Stafford Millicent = Hervey Bagot
(d.s.p.1193/4) Stafford (d.1214)
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Hervey Stafford (d.1237)
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Hervey Stafford Robert Stafford = Alice Corbet
(d.s.p.1241) (d.1261) of Caus
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Nicholas Stafford (d.1287)
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Margaret, sister & = Edmund, 1st Lord Stafford
Coheiress of Ralph Basset (d.1308)
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1.Katherine Hastang = Ralph, 1st Earl Stafford
2.Margaret Audley | (d.1372)
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 April 2006 )
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History 
