History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 83

In West Flanders, the Rutherfurd familial relations center around these 4 groups - all
of whom later came to Britain:
1. Hacket - Ridelsford - Ypres - Douglas - Rutherfurd
2. Harnes
3. Wavrin - Beaufremetz [Beaumetz] - de Fournes [Furnes/Furness] - Bailleul
[Balliol]
4. Bethune [Beaton] - Lille [Lyle] - de Insula

The Flemish Diaspora in Britain
A genuine "genesis story" for the Clan Rutherfurd by necessity began with a detailed
study of each and every Scottish family that had ever signed a charter, marriage
contract, agreement of manrent or any other document between 1140 and 1498.
These families included the de Rydel, de Percy, de Morville, de Normanville, de
Stutteville, de Vaux, de Neufmarché, de Valoniis, de Lucy, de Lacy, de Insula, de
Ghent and, of course, the Douglas family. It has become very clear that all of these
Scottish families had Flemish connections. Even families with names like "de
Normanville" were actually Flemish immigrants from West Flanders who had been
resettled in Normandy and Brittany.
The Normans were excellent at conquering but knew nothing about administering the
lands which they had conquered. For this they looked to the descendants of
Charlemagne, the Frankish nobility of Flanders. Like the Scots-Irish on the American
frontier, the Flemings were perfectly suited for the task at hand. They were very
experienced at laying sieges, building castles, running armadas and managing large
coordinated human efforts ......... like invasions. So William the Conqueror was wise in
his use of Flemish archers and mounted knights but even wiser in later placing these
families in "wild areas" like Ireland and along the Welsh and Scottish Marches.

83