COA
Intro Picture

Introduction


In 1890 Warren Ladd of New Bedford, MA published in his book "The Ladd Family, A Genealogical and Biographical Memoir of the Descendants of Daniel Ladd, of Haverhill, MA; Joseph Ladd, of Portsmouth, RI; John Ladd, of Burlington, NJ; and John Ladd, of Charles City Co, VA" the following (in part):


"While no special effort has been made by me, or by anyone to my knowledge, to trace in England the ancestors of Daniel Ladd, who came from London in the Mary and John in 1633, a brief record of some of the Ladds of England may be not only interesting, but may, at some future time, be useful as a reference to any one who desires a more extensive knowledge of the character and genealogical record of those who bear the name of Ladd."


"We learn from Edward Wilds Ladd, of London, that his ancestry, the 'first Lads, came to England with William the Conqueror from France - settled at Deal, Kent county, where a portion of land was granted them, eight miles from Dover - Downes, - name spelled Lad, Lade, Ladd; his remote ancestors were seafaring people, Government pilots at Margate.' This looks reasonable when we remember that William the Conqueror first landed in England at Peuencey in the southeast part of Sussex county, moved his army to Hastings, which he fortified, and where the great 'battle of Hastings,' in which he won the right and title to the Crown of England, was fought. Dover, Deal and Margate, in Kent county, are not far from Hastings, in Sussex, and it seems natural that many of William's followers should settle in Sussex and Kent counties..."


Most individuals researching their Ladd ancestry have come to accept Edward Wilds Ladd's theory of the origin of the Ladds in England as stated in Warren Ladd's book. Edgar P Ladd of Houston, TX and I have spent many hours trying to locate any reference to the Lade/Lad/Ladd name in Normandy prior to 1066. We were not able to come up with one reference. As a result we began looking at other references to the Lade/Lad/Ladd name in England prior to the Battle of Hastings.


It is our belief that the relatives and descendants of Eirik Håkonsson. (Eirik de la Lade, Earl of Northumberland) in 1014 - 1016 may have been the first. As a result of our research we submit the following "theory" as another alternative. Neither theory has been proven to my knowledge. A Ladd researcher in England provided the following observation: "Today, Ladd/Lade is a very common name and appears in a number of places throughout England. These families are not necessarily connected. The Ladds in Elham and Barham are not necessarily linked to those in Deal except at a very early date.


Surnames


Origin & History


European surnames first occurred between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries, with some surnames relating to or derived from the name of one's father or a paternal ancestor. Prior to this time period, particularly during the “Dark Ages” between the fifth and eleventh centuries, people were largely illiterate, lived in rural areas or small villages, and had little need of distinction beyond their given names. During Biblical times people were often referred to by their given names and the locality in which they resided such as “Jesus of Nazareth.” However, as populations grew, the need to identify individuals by surnames became a necessity. The acquisition of surnames during the past eight hundred years has been affected by many factors, including social class and social structure, cultural tradition, and naming practices in neighboring cultures. The first known people to acquire surnames were the Chinese. Legends suggest that the Emperor Fushi decreed the use of surnames, or family names, about 2852 BC.


During the early middle ages, people were referred to by a single given name. Gradually the custom of adding another name as a way to distinguish individuals gained popularity. Certain distinct traits became commonly used as a part of this practice, for instance, the place of birth; a descriptive characteristic; the person's occupation; or the use of the father's name.


  By the 12th century, the use of a second name had become so widespread that, in some places, it was considered vulgar not to have one. However, even though this custom was the source of all surnames used today, the second names used in the early Middle Ages did not apply to families, nor were they hereditary.


Whether these second names evolved into fixed, hereditary surnames is difficult to pinpoint with any accuracy since the practice advanced slowly over a period of several hundreds of years. Many fixed surnames existed alongside the more temporary bynames and descriptive terms used by the people as second names.


The modern hereditary use of surnames is a practice that originated among the Venetian aristocracy in Italy about the 10th or 11th centuries. Crusaders returning from the Holy Land took note of this custom and soon spread its use throughout Europe as the need to distinguish individuals became more important.


Government became more and more a matter of written record. As the activities of government, particularly in the levying of taxes and the exaction of military service, touched an ever-widening range of the population, perhaps it became necessary to identify individuals accurately. In some of the larger urban communities especially, personal names were no longer sufficient to distinguish people for social as well as administrative purposes.


In the countryside, manorial administration, with its stress on hereditary succession to land, needed some means of keeping track of families and not just of individuals. We can be certain that by about 1450 at the latest, most people of whatever social rank had a fixed, hereditary surname. This surname identified the family, provided a link with the family's past, and would preserve its identity in the future. It is not surprising that the preservation of surnames became a matter of family pride. It was cause for much regret if a man had no male descendants to whom he could pass on the surname he himself had inherited and had held with pride.


Surname spelling and pronunciation has evolved over centuries, with our current generation often unaware of the origin and evolution of their name. Among the humbler classes of European society, and especially among the illiterate, individuals had little choice but to accept the mistakes of officials, clerks, and priests who officially bestowed upon them new versions of their name, just as they had meekly accepted the name with which they were born. 



 

Lade / Ladd Origins

See my DNA Results

  

Hålogaland was an old province in central Norway, once a local kingdom before the unification of the nation. Norwegians have traditionally taken a name associated with the family village or farm. I believe the Lade/Ladd surname has its origins based within the region of Trondhjem (Þrándheimr) in an area known as Lade (Hlader).


During the 9th Century, several local strong leaders had control over their regional areas of Norway. Each region had a leader referred to as a Jarl [jarl n. A medieval Scandinavian chieftain or nobleman, Earl] thus, the "Earl of Lade" or Ladejarl as it was known. In some instances, the Jarl also served as King.


Originally, names were derived from patronymics, the forming of a surname from the father’s given name such as Håkonsson, the son of Håkon, or Håkonsdatter, the daughter of Håkon. As surnames came into use, it appears that Ladd was originally de la Lade. Looking through the records in England, we find Richard de la Lade (Circa 1096). However later, Walterous (Circa 1242) dropped the "de" and used just le Lade, where as his son’s Anselinus and Roberto dropped the "le" and from then on it was just Lade. And later, in some cases, it became Ladd.


“The Viking Connection"


  Ladejarls of Hålogaland  

At the end of the 8th century, King Harald Fairhair (Haraldr Hárfagri) managed to bring the local kings together in spite of their fierce competition and fighting. The 8th century was followed by renewed fighting both between regions and between royal families, among them the Hárfagri family and the Ladejarls (Hlaðajarlar) originating from Trondheim (Þrándheimr). 


From 969 to 995, Håkon the Great, Ladjarl served as regent of Norway.


In the year 1000 Eirik Håkonsson, (Eiríkr) the eldest son of Håkon Ladejarl (the Earl of Lade) and his half-brother Svein (Sveinn) entered into a league with the Kings of Denmark and Sweden against King Olav (Óláfr Haraldsson) of Norway and participated in the battle of Svolder (Stiklarstaðir). After the battle, Eirik (Eiríkr) and his brother Svein (Sveinn) from the Ladejarls ruled over a large part of Norway with the supervision of Denmark and Sweden.


Eirik Håkonsson, Ladejarl of Hålogaland ruled from 1000 to 1015.


In 1014 Eirik followed King Cnut (Chanute) to England and later was given the Northumberland as his county. His title became Eirik de la Lade, Earl of Northumberland.


In the year 1015 Olav Haraldsson, representing the Hárfagri family, returned from one of his Viking trips and he was immediately elected as King of Norway.


June 1016 Olav Harldsson won the battle at Nesjar against the Ladejarls. The major reason behind Olav Haraldsson's success in becoming King of Norway was the fact that Denmark was busy conquering England. When King Olav came to Steinker, he collected all of the meat and prepared a Yule feast (festival at the Winter Solstice). After procuring vessels and loading them with all of the provisions, he made sail for Nidaros. Here King Olav laid a foundation for a merchant town and built the Kings house.


In 1016 the King of England assassinated Eirik Håkonsson. (Eirik de la Lade, Earl of Northumberland)


In the year 1028 however, the Danish King Cnut the Great made an alliance with the Ladejarls, and Olav had to escape to Garðaríki (Russia).


Håkon Eiriksson, Ladejarl of Hålogaland, ruled Norway from 1028 to 1029.


In the year of 1029 the last Ladejarl, Håkon Eiriksson, drowned and Olav decided to return to Norway with his army to regain his throne and the Kingdom of Norway. He traveled with his 3600 men, crossing through Sweden and over the Verdal mountains. King Olav arrived at Stiklestad near a farm called Sul, at which time the Battle of Stiklestad took place. At Sul, Olav met an army led by Hårek from Tjøtta, Tore Hund from Bjarkøy, and Kalv Arneson, a man who previously served Olav. The peasant army consisted of more than 7,000 men. The battle took place on July 29th, 1030. At the end of the day Olav's army had lost. Olav was wounded and he died later in the evening.


There are several de la Lade’s referenced in the late 1080’s in England. One of them being Richard de la Lade of Sudbury in 1086.


Another account-


Father - Halfdan “ The Black “ King of Vestfold


Mother - Ragnhild Sigurdsdotter of Ringerike


Son - Harald the First King of Vestfold


Harald 1st, by the name of Harald Fairhair - born about 860 and died about 940, was the first King to claim sovereignty over all of Norway. Harald was one of the greatest of the Scandinavian war chiefs and had complete control over the western coastal regions but marginal control over the rest of Norway. Harald succeeded his father at the young age of ten and his first conquest was of the suppression of a revolt in the upland region. A pact with Håkon, Earl of Lade enabled him to pursue the conquest of the western districts of Norway ending with the battle of Hafrsfjord about 872.


Haralds conquests and tax system led many chiefs and their followers to immigrate to the British Isles, Iceland and other more favorable locations.


LADEJARL DESCENDANTS


Grjotgard Ladejarl Herlaugsson, He was an Earl in Trondelag, Norway, B: 790, Agdenes, Stord, D: 867, Married: Unknown


Håkon Ladejarl Grjotgardsson, B: 865, D: abt 900, Marriage Unknown. Father: Grjotgard Herlaugsson.
Earl Håkon Grjotgardson of Hlader (Lade) had the whole rule over Throndhjem when King Harald was away from the country; and Håkon stood higher with the king than anyone in the country of Throndhjem.


"The following spring (A.D. 869) King Harald went southwards with his fleet along the coast, and subdued Firdafylke. Then he sailed eastward along the land until he came to Vik; he left Earl Håkon Grjotgardson behind, and placed him over the Fjord district.  Earl Håkon sent word to Earl Atle Mjove that he should leave Sogn district, and be Earl over Gaular district, as he had been before, alleging that King Harald had given Sogn district to him.  Earl Atle sent word that he would keep both Sogn district and Gaular district, until he met King Harald.  The two Earls quarreled about this so long, that both gathered troops.  They met at Fialar, in Stavanger fiord, and had a great battle, in which Earl Håkon fell, and Earl Atle got a mortal wound, and his men carried him to the island of Atley, where he died." So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller: --


Sigurd Ladejarl Håkonsson, Earl of Lade, B: 890 D: 962 Married Berglojot Thoresdatter, B: abt 880, daughter of Thore Teiande Ragnvaldsson (Thore the Silent), Mørejarl, Earl of Møre, and Åalof Årbot Haraldsdatter, B: abt 871 daughter of Harald Haarfagre (the Fairhair) and Gyda Eriksdatter.


After Håkon's death his son Sigurd succeeded to his power in Throndhjem, and was the Earl, and had his mansion at Hlader. King Harald's son, Halfdan the Black and Sigurd, who had been before in the house of his father Earl Håkon, continued to be brought up in his house. The sons of Harald and Sigurd were about the same age. Earl Sigurd was one of the wisest men of his time, and married Bergljot, a daughter of Earl Thorer the Silent; and her mother was Alof Arbot, a daughter of King Harald Harfager. ...


Håkon Ladejarl Sigurdsson, The Mighty, Earl of Lade, He was King of Norway from 974 to 994. B: abt 937, D: murdered 995, Parents: Sigurd Ladejarl Håkonson and Bergljot Thorersdatter.  Håkon married Thora Skagesdatter, daughter of Skage Skoftesson and Unknown. Daughter: Ragnhild Hakonsdatter.


Other names for Håkon were Håkon the Great and Håkon den Store.  Norwegian noble who defeated Harald II Graycloak, becoming the chief ruler (c. 970) of Norway; he later extended his rule over the greater part of the country.  He resisted an attempt by the Danish king Harald III Bluetooth to Christianize Norway and was the last non-Christian Norwegian ruler.


The son of the Norwegian Earl of Lade, who was killed by Harald II Graycloak, Håkon was exiled to Denmark after his father's death. After overthrowing his father's murderer with the aid of Harald Bluetooth, he became sovereign in the west, while Harald Bluetooth annexed southeastern Norway. Håkon supported Bluetooth against the Holy Roman emperor Otto II in 974 but revolted against Bluetooth's efforts to impose Christianity in Norway, subsequently expanding his own sovereignty in the western and northern regions of the country.


Håkon's advocacy of the ancient Norse religion gained him great popularity among the non-Christian Norwegian chieftains. His arrogance toward the end of his life, however, cost him the support of his followers, and he was killed by his own men in 995. He was immediately succeeded by Olaf I Tryggvason, who had invaded Norway earlier that year.


As long as Håkon was king in Norway, there was good peace between the bondes and merchants; so that none did harm either to the life or goods of the other. Good seasons also there were, both by sea and land. King Håkon was of a remarkably cheerful disposition, clever in words, and very condescending. He was a man of great understanding also, and bestowed attention on law-giving. He gave out the Gula-Thing's laws (The Thing was a common-meeting at which laws were confirmed, conflicts solved and judgments awarded.  It had legislative and judiciary powers, and was the highest available court level) on the advice of Thorleif Spake (the Wise); also the Frosta-Thing's laws on the advice of Earl Sigurd, and of other Throndhjem men of wisdom.  Eidsiva-Thing laws were first established in the country by Halfdan the Black.


Svein Ladejarl Håkonsson, B: abt 970, D: Abt 1016.  Parents: Håkon Ladjarl Sigurdsson and Thora Skagesdotter. Daughter: Holmfried, Gunhild Svendstottir.


Eirik Ladejarl Håkonsson, Earl of Lade, Earl of Northumbria, He was King of Norway from 999 to 1015. B: abt 964, D: abt 1023 England, Eirik married Gyda Svendsdatter, daughter of Svend I Haraldsson Tjugeskjegg of Denmark and Sigrid Toftesdatter Storråde, about 996. Eirik was the illegitimate son of Håkon Ladejarl Sigurdsson.  Mother: Unknown


"Earl Håkon came one winter to the Uplands to a feast, and it so happened that he had intercourse with a girl of mean birth. Some time after the girl had to prepare for her confinement, and she bore a child, a boy, who had water poured on him, and was named Eirik. The mother carried the boy to Earl Håkon, and said that he was the father. The Earl placed him to be brought up with a man called Thorleif the Wise, who dwelt in Medaldal, and was a rich and powerful man, and a great friend of the Earl.  Eirik gave hopes very early that he would become an able man, was handsome in countenance, and stout and strong for a child; but the Earl did not pay much attention to him.  The Earl himself was one of the handsomest men in countenance, -- not tall, but very strong, and well practiced in all kinds of exercises; and withal prudent, of good understanding, and a deadly man at arms."


"When Eirik had been a year in Sweden he went over to Denmark (A.D. 996) to King Svein Tjuguskeg, the Danish king, and courted his daughter Gyda. The proposal was accepted, and Earl Eirik married Gyda; and a year after (A.D. 997) they had a son, who was called Håkon. Earl Eirik was in the winter in Denmark, or sometimes in Sweden; but in summer he went a-cruising."


Cnut was well received in Denmark by his older brother Harald, whom Svein had installed as king before he left for England. Harald helped Cnut raise a large fleet for an invasion to regain the crown of England. Various sources have numbered this fleet between two hundred and one thousand ships. The lowest estimate comes from the earliest source and is likely to be the most accurate, indicating an invasion force of over ten thousand men.  Cnut was joined by his Norwegian brother-in-law, Earl Eirik of Lade, whose long experience in warfare and government made him an ideal advisor for the inexperienced young prince. Just before leaving, they were joined by Thorkell who had abandoned Ethelred.


The invasion force landed in Wessex in the summer of 1015. Most likely, the landing was made in the south because Cnut's earlier abandonment had alienated the people in the Danelaw.   Shortly after landing, the invasion force was joined by the English Earl Eadric Streona with forty ships.  Within four months, Cnut controlled Wessex and was operating north of the Thames. After Earl Uhtred of Northumbria surrendered and was killed by Cnut on the advice of Eadric, Eirik of Lade became Cnut's Earl in the north.


Cnut became king of all England at the end of 1016, when Edmund 'Ironside' died.  He divided England into four Earldoms. Cnut himself took charge of Wessex, Thorkell the Tall of East Anglia, the Norwegian Earl, Erik of Lade, retained Northumbria (Cnut had appointed Erik 'Earl of Northumbria' when Uhtred was killed) and Eadric took Mercia. In order to prevent a possible challenge for the throne, Cnut decided to banish Edmund's brother, Edward. He later thought better of it and had Edward murdered.


Håkon Ladejarl Eriksson, Earl of Worcester, B: abt 998, D: 1030, Håkon married Gunhild of Wendland, daughter of Vortigern of Wendland and Gunhild Svendsdatter. (Gunhild of Wendland died after 1066.).   Parents: Eirik Ladejarl Håkonsson and Gyda Svendsdatter.


"During this time Cnut the Great, called by some Cnut the Old, was king of England and Denmark. Cnut the Great was a son of Svein Haraldson Forkedbeard, whose forefathers, for a long course of generations, had ruled over Denmark.  Harald Gormson, Cnut's grandfather, had conquered Norway after the fall of Harald Grafeld, Gunhild's son, had taken scat from it, and had placed Earl Håkon the Great to defend the country. The Danish King, Svein Haraldson, ruled also over Norway, and placed his son-in-law Earl Eirik, the son of Earl Håkon, to defend the country.  The brothers Eirik and Svein, Earl Håkon's sons, ruled the land until Earl Eirik went west to England, on the invitation of his brother-in-law Cnut the Great, when he left behind his son Earl Håkon, sister's son of Cnut the Great, to govern Norway. But when Olaf the Thick came first to Norway, as before related, he took prisoner Earl Håkon the son of Eirik, and deposed him from the kingdom. Then Håkon proceeded to his mother's brother, Cnut the Great, and had been with him constantly until the time to which here in our saga we have now come. ..."


Meanwhile, Cnut's agents had been at work buying off the Norwegian nobility and, in 1028: “ . . . went King Cnut from England to Norway with fifty ships manned with English thanes, and drove King Olaf from the land, which he entirely secured to himself."  Olaf went into exile with his Swedish wife's relatives at Kiev. Cnut put Håkon, son of Eirik of Lade, in charge of Norway and Hardecnut was now King of Denmark in his own right. Cnut had a mistress, Ælfgifu, with whom he had two sons, Sweyn and Harold and, when Håkon drowned, it was Sweyn who Cnut established as King of Norway with Ælfgifu as regent.


The Vikings of Norway during their history colonized much of the world.  Not only did they conquer England, they also had a great presence and influence over France (Normandy, a Viking colony), Italy and Germany.  They also had a presence in what is now Russia. If one was to guess, a large part of the world population is descended from these warrior chiefs.


References to Lade, Ladd, Lad, Ladds, and Ladde
between 1014 & 1450


1014-1016 - Eirik de la Lade, Earl of Northumberland


1096 - Richard de la Lade was witness to the confirmation of the Church charter in Rotherfield.


1242 - Walterous and Johanna le Lade paid ½ knights fee to the Bishop. 
Their children were:


Anselinus Lade - born about 1254


Roberto Lade - born about 1260


John Lade - son of Roberto born about 1316


Geoffrey Lade - son of John born about 1343.


1254 - Anselinus Lad holds part of a quarter knight’s fee in Snodilande of the Bishop of Rochester.


25 August 1282 - The Confirmation by Gilbert, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford of a charter of Gilbert de Tonnebregg, Earl of Hertford was witnessed by Richard de la Lade.


1294 - William Ladd is mentioned as a juryman in the reign of Edward I.


1302 - Johanne le Ladd witness to covenant by Bishop of Rochester of a tenement to John Ussher.


1305 - Johanne Lad witness to grant of land: Robert Usser.


1316 - John, son of John le Lad of Snodylonde, defendant in Fine with Geoffrey, son of Adam de Gillingham: messuage and lands in Snodilonde.


1325 - King Edward II bought the Manor of Henle from Walter De Henley, of which he granted the custody to Walter, Bishop of Exeter, but the next year revoked the grant and transferred it to Walter Lad. This Manor contains 1344 acres.


20 September 1325 - Absolution of Walterus Ladde, of Snodland, upon his submission for excommunication incurred for resisting the publication of a sentence of the dean of Rochester in Snodland church.


1334/1335 - The Index to the Kent Lay Subsidy Roll refers to Adam Lad, Henry Lad, John Lad, and Robert Lad.


1 June 1330 - Nicholas Lad, son of John le Lad of Snodland: tonsure.


21 September 1343 - Geoffrey Lad of Snodland: tonsure.


3 August 1380 - The Sheriff of Berkshire held an order for "Richard Ladde and William Herry to deliver up their cattle taken to witherman by virtue of the king's writ concerning the replevin of cattle of Nicholas Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross by them taken and unlawfully withheld."  (It seems the King ordered Richard Ladde to recover some stolen cattle and return them to the King.)


24 June 1413 - The will of John Colpeprir, Knight, leaves to Walter Ladde, vicar of West Pecham for tithes etc 10s.


The first traceable records begin with John Lade, B: abt 1440, D: abt 1478, married Cecelia about 1465 in Elham, Kent, England.  Their son, John Lade, B: abt 1470, Otting, Elham, Kent, England, D: 1528 married Alice Oldefyde B: abt 1474, D: 1509, about 1495.


GAPS IN THE RECORDS


There are many gaps in the recorded history of England making research very difficult, if not impossible.   Between constant internal wars and conflicts along with several plagues including the huge outbreak of the Bubonic plague in 1350 and 1665, records are scarce.  The Black Death caused the deaths of a third of England's population. It changed medicine, beliefs, values, and the relationship between the working class and the ruling class.  The five years from 1348 to 1353 were the worst years, then the outbreaks grew less, finally disappeared after the last outbreak in London in 1665. The Great Fire of London in 1666 also resulted in the loss of many historic records.


The compilation of the Domesday Book was ordered by William the Conqueror in 1086. Compiled to provide a basis for taxation, the Domesday Book was the most comprehensive survey of feudal estates carried out in medieval England. It caused great popular discontent and earned the name "Doomsday" because, like the religious Day of Judgment, there could be no appeal against it.


The churches kept the records at that time recording baptisms, marriages and deaths, births were not recorded. The Archdeaconry Court handled the probate of wills.


THE NORMANDY CONNECTION


Rolf Ragnvaldsson - also known as Rolf the Ganger, Rolf Wend-a-Foot, Rolf the Viking and Rollo of Norway. He was baptized as "Robert" and became the 1st Duke of Normandy, B: 860 Maer, Norway, D: 932, Neustrie, Normandy, France; Father: Rognvald, B: abt 830, D: 890 Maer, Norway; Mother: Hilda


Encyclopedia Britannica states that Rolf was a "Scandinavian rover who founded the Duchy of  Normandy. Making himself independent of King Harald I of Norway, Rolf sailed off to raid Scotland, England, Flanders, and France on pirating expeditions and, about 911, established himself in an area along the Seine River. Charles III the Simple of France held off his siege of Paris, battled him near Chartres, and negotiated the treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, giving him the part of Neustria that came to be called Normandy; Rolf in return agreed to end his brigandage. He gave his son, William (I) Longsword, governance of the dukedom (927) before his death. Rolf was baptized as 'Robert' in 912 but is said to have died a pagan."


Rolf, son of Roginwald was Lord over three little islets in Norway near the Fjord of Folden, called the Three Vigten Islands.  His chief occupation was that of a sea robber or pirate, which King Harald of Norway did not approve. In the Court of King Harald, sea robbery was strictly forbidden between Harald’s own countries. However against foreign countries it continued to be the one main occupation of the Gentlemen of that era.


Rolf’s crime was not in the piracy at sea but that on returning from one of these expeditions his crew fell short of provisions.  Rolf landed with them on the shores of Norway and promptly drove in some cattle that they killed and ate. This was a crime against the King, and when King Harald heard of it he set out on foot to capture and punish Rolf for this crime.


Rolf the Ganger quickly returned to his ships and fled the area, for France. Arriving in France with his sea robbers, they received permission to occupy the desert area along the coast. This area then became known as Normandy (land of the Northmen). Over the next two centuries, the Norsemen cleared the land and populated the area. Out of these Norsemen came Wilhelmus the conquaestor  (William the Conqueror).


Many researchers in the past believed that the Lade's came to England with William the Conqueror from France.  This may be true, but I have not been able to find any reference to any form of the Lad/Lade name in Normandy. I believe that the first Lade's came to Northumberland with Eirik Ladejarl Håkonsson, (Eirik de la Lade, Earl of Northumberland) in 1014.


When William the Conqueror invaded England fifty years later, the Lade's in England being of the same "blood" joined him in his campaign to become King of England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.


For their services, they were granted land in what is now County Kent, around the Deal and Dover areas.   There, they were farmers and fishermen. Their descendants remain on the land in Kent County today. The name evolved into LADE, LAD, LADDE and later LADD.  In following lines in England, each of these spellings can be found. There is a probability that the surname of LADDS is also descended from this same line.


KINGS OF NORWAY


The process of unification in Norway began with the conquests of Harald Fairhair in the late 9th century, but was not completed before the beginning of the 11th. Dates before 900 should be approached with skepticism. Norway was united with Denmark in personal union from the 14th century; in 1814 it was detached from Denmark, and amalgamated with Sweden. Norway seceded from Sweden in 1905, and established a separate dynasty.



King Harald I "Fairhair" of Norway (863-930) abdicated, 1m: Asa Håkonsdotter, dau.of Håkon Ladejarl; 2m: Gyda, dau.of King Eirik of Hoerdeland; 3m: Svanhild, dau.of Eystein, Jarl in Hedemarken; 4m: Snaefried, dau.of Finnen Svase; 5m: Alvhild, dau.of Ring Dagsson of Ringerike; 6m:  Ragnhild "the Rich" of Haithabu; He had issue as follows:



LADEJARL GENEALOGY


Håkon Grjotgardsson, Ladejarl, +900, had issue:

Ladds In America


There were four Ladds that came to America in the very early years of this country. Daniel LADD, in 1634 to Haverhill, MA.; Joseph LADD to Portsmouth, MA [purported to be the brother of Daniel]; John LADD to Virginia prior to Oct, 1653; and John LADD to Burlington, NJ by 1678.


All of these family lines spread out across the United States as the years passed, so today it is sometimes difficult to know which line that one belongs to. There are many researchers, with LADD connections, that are frantically looking for that "lost generation" that would link them to one of these original four men.


There were less noted Ladds that came here in about the same time periods but seemed to have disappeared from view after arriving.   It is also likely that other Ladds migrated to America at a much later date and they could very well be part of that "lost generation".


It is possible that all Ladds are descended from that family of de la Lade.