Berkeley family

The Berkeley family descends in the male line from Robert Fitzharding (d. 1170), 1st feudal baron of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, reputedly the son of Harding of Bristol, the son of Eadnoth the Constable (Alnod), a high official under King Edward the Confessor.

Most of the manor was then re-granted to his supporter and financier the Anglo-Saxon Robert Fitzharding (d. 1170), of Bristol, as a feudal barony.

The Bruton branch descends from Maurice Berkeley (by 1514–1581), a politician who rose rapidly in the Tudor court.

[7] He built a house on the site of Bruton Priory, a spoil of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, incorporating some of the buildings, but this was demolished in 1786.

His "Bruton branch" of the family produced a number of notable figures until the 18th century, including five Barons Berkeley of Stratton (extinct in 1773), and four Viscount Fitzhardinges (extinct in 1712), as well as William Berkeley, Governor of Virginia.

Arms of the Berkeley family from about 1200: Gules, a chevron between 10 crosses pattée 6 in chief and 4 in base argent . This version is sometimes blazoned as 6 in chief 3 and 3 corner-wise . Motto: Virtute non vi ("By virtue not force").
Jan Kip 's aerial view of Berkeley Castle engraved for the antiquary Sir Robert Atkyns ' The Ancient and Present State of Glostershire, 1712.
Sir Maurice Berkeley and his two wives, Church of St Mary, Bruton