Maurice de Prendergast
c. 1120 – c. 1205 | Knight & Adventurer
Perhaps the most celebrated figure in our family history, Maurice de Prendergast was a Cambro-Norman knight born in Pembrokeshire, Wales. In 1169, he answered the call of Diarmait Mac Murchada, the exiled King of Leinster, and joined the Norman invasion of Ireland.
Maurice arrived in Ireland with a force of ten knights and a company of archers. He fought alongside Richard "Strongbow" de Clare in the campaign that would establish Norman control over much of Ireland. His military service was rewarded with lands in Leinster.
However, Maurice was known for his independent spirit. Historical records suggest he had disagreements with Strongbow and at one point even allied temporarily with the native Irish. Eventually, he returned to Norman allegiance and his descendants established themselves as one of Ireland's prominent Hiberno-Norman families.
"The first recorded spelling of the family name is that of Maurice de Prendergast, dated 1169, in the records of Pembrokeshire." — Historical Records
Philip de Prendergast
Late 11th Century | Lord of Prendergast
Son of Prenliregast (who came with the Norman Conquest), Philip was granted lands near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, Wales. He established what would become known as Prendergast Castle, giving the family a permanent seat in Welsh history.
The area of Prendergast in Wales still bears the family name today, serving as a lasting monument to this early ancestor.
Prenliregast
c. 1040 – ? | Norman Conqueror
The earliest documented ancestor in the English historical record, Prenliregast was among the followers of William, Duke of Normandy, during the conquest of England in 1066. His name suggests his family had already adopted the Prendergast/Prentagast form from the original Brontegeest.
After the successful conquest, Prenliregast was among those rewarded with lands in the newly Norman-controlled England, setting the stage for his descendants' later expansion into Wales and Ireland.
