Finally, we dispel some of the Clan Lasse myths for anyone who wishes to research Lasse history further. Were the Lacys Norman or Franks? Was Lasse the ancient name of the de Lacys? Was the village of Lassy in Calvados there long before the de Lacy Family? An in-depth look at the de Lacy origin
Ninth-century Norway was comprised of many small kingdoms crowded upon the Western and Southern Scandinavian Coast with constant feuds and bitter fighting between Clans (Tribes) for fishing or farming land. The primary food source was fish from the Fiord inlets or the open sea. The Norse people became adept fishermen tackling the stormy Norwegian Seas. From their mastery of the waters came a whole new era: the development of the Longboat.
King Harald Fairhair (Haraldr Hálfdanarson) Born 850 Died 933. First King of Norway from 875 to 930. Following bitter fighting over land, safe harbours and the best fishing areas. War-torn Norway in 872AD found peace following the crowning of King Harald Fairhead as the first high King to rule over all of Norway. Over the next two years, he developed his plan to improve Norway. Then, in 875AD, he called together his chief Jarl’s.
Lasse A medieval Scandinavian name reaching back to the 2nd-century known right across Scandinavia including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and the far northern coastal Germanic people of Europe. Together with the name Lars, it derives from Laurentius a Latin given name or surname meaning 'From Laurentum (a city near Rome), or “Laurelled” derived from the Old Greek word Lavrenti meaning “bright one, shining one“. The modern-day derivative of Laurentius is Laurence.
With the creation of Normandy, Rollo set aside pockets of land for his own family and then, as promised, divided the remainder between his faithful followers, The Lacy family had been granted 200 sq miles of land (128,000 acres) to be held by the Norman law of Parage, the area known as Lassy, also known as the Lacicu Latius estates in Calvados. It linked Vire with Lassy, which is only 20 km away, well within the land grant—on receiving their lands the descendants and extended family of Karl Lasse also followed the pattern of taking Frankish brides, adapting to the rules of the Catholic church to become prosperous Norman landowners. Their prosperity gained them further estates in and around Normandy. By the fourth generation, we have arrived at Hugh de Laci, now Lord of Lassy—Father of our two de Lacy brothers.
The research used to collect this version of the de Lacy family's early origins follows the most accepted history. Credible knowledge was hard to find before the tenth century. It was often vague, leading to facts relating beyond royal or papal records being only monastery hearsay or folklore. In this environment, it is not surprising that historians or researchers will sometimes offer alternative origins.