Prominent families
Prominent Jersey families
A handful of families have dominated the history of Jersey over the centuries. The links below lead to potted histories of these families, with further links to biographies of their most prominent members
Bandinel
The Bandinels were a prominent family in the Church of England in Jersey.
Coming originally from Italy, the first of the family to arrive in Jersey was David Bandinel, late in the 16th century when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne. He became Rector of St Brelade and was appointed Dean. His eldest son Jacques was Rector of St Mary and was appointed vice-Dean by his father. The family was strongly anti-Royalist and after the Restoration of the Monarchy and the return to Jersey of Sir George de Carteret they were imprisoned in Mont Orgueil Castle. In attempting to escape David Bandinel died and his son was badly injured and died not long afterwards. Their descendants were banned from ever holding public office in Jersey but this policy failed because five of them became Constables of St Martin, one Constable of St Saviour, three were Viscounts and one a Jurat.
De Barentin
The de Barentin family almost certainly originated in the town of Barentin, close to Rouen in Normandy. Some held minor positions in the English Royal Household in the 13th century, but whether they were directly related to the de Barentins who settled in Jersey is far from certain. What can be said is that they achieved considerable success in the island. In the 14th century they held the fiefs of Rosel, Samares, Longueville, Diélament, La Hougue Boëte, Houmet, La Fosse and Paisnel - a considerable land holding and a base for considerable power. This position was achieved as a result of successive appointments of de Barentins as Warden of the Isles and Bailiff of Jersey. However, the properties owned by the family in England eventually proved more attractive to successive generations who did not hold high office and the family sold their Jersey holdings and left the island.
- Drouet de Barentin Warden of the Isles and possibly Bailiff
- Drew de Barentin Warden of the Isles
- Drogo de Barentin ( -1414), twice Mayor of London
- Guillaume de Barentin, Seigneur of Rosel, Warden or Bailiff
- Philippe de Barentin
De Carteret
- de Carteret: All our de Carteret biographies are listed on the main family page
De St Martin
The de St Martin family, which held Trinity Manor for nearly 200 years, probably originated from the village of St Martin Le Gaillard in Upper Normandy. The family was extremely powerful in Jersey and Guernsey, producing four Bailiffs of Jersey, two Bailiffs of Guernsey, a Dean of Guernsey and at least nine Jurats. However, the loyalty to the English Crown of successive office-holders was somewhat suspect. Bailiff Richard de St Martin was accused of murder in 1368 and fled to Normandy. Bailiff Jean de St Martin was twice accused of betraying Mont Orgueil Castle to Bertrand du Guesclin in 1373, but twice tried and acquitted. In 1472 Jurat Thomass de St Martin went over to the French and nine years later, when the French occupied Jersey, Guillaume de St Martin was accused by Renaud Lempriere of having 'sold us like meat on a butcher's staff'. He was Attorney-General throughout the French occupation and other members of the family served the French garrison. When the French were expelled from Jersey in 1468, brothers Guillaume, Raulet, James and Jean de St Martin, and their cousins Thomas and Guy, had their estates confiscated 'by reason of treason of selling and delivering of the King's Castel in Jersey'. They fled to Normandy, where they were well rewarded by the French King, and the family died out in Jersey.
- Richard, Jean and Geoffroi de St Martin successive Bailiffs of Jersey
- Guillaume de St Martin
- Richard de St Martin, Bailiff
- Thomas de St Martin, Gentleman Usher to Henry VII
- Jean de St Martin, Bailiff
- Geoffroi de St Martin, Bailiff
Lempriere
- Family page
- Lempriere family: A history
- Lempriere family in the 16th century: Another history
Paulet
- Paulet family: A history
