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Eyre LegendThe legend of the founder of the Eyre and Ayre families, known as Truelove (or True Love) appears in genealogies. However, there is no definitive historical evidence confirming his existence. The family legend states that he accompanied William the Conqueror to Britain during the Norman Invasion, and fought alongside him at the Battle of Hastings (14 October, 1066). When William was thrown from his horse his helmet was driven into his face, suffocating him, but Truelove was able to remove the helmet and save William's life. He suffered dearly for his bravery, sustaining an injury so severe that his entire leg had to be amputated. After the battle William told him "thou shalt hereafter instead of Truelove be called Eyre because thou hast given me the air I breathe." http://superjordans-home.com/MariahsAncestors/a23.htm Truelove was granted land in Derby as a reward for his services, together with a Coat of Arms featuring a "a human leg in Armour couped at the thigh quarterly argent and sable spurred" http://www.standard.net.au/~daneyre/Histeyre.htm, in reference to the sacrifice of his limb. Some of these features may persist in the current Eyre Coat of Arms, which features three gold stars on a black chevron with a white background. Many have also hypothesized that Truelove was William's cousin; Truelove was said to be a grandson or great-grandson of King Edmund II (Ironsides), while William was a great-nephew of King Ethelread the Unready, King Edmund's father. This would have made the two warriors second or third cousins, and certainly would have explained their closeness on the journey, why Truelove was so eager to come to William's aid, and why William felt compelled to reward him so generously. Unfortunately, Truelove's original surname, like many things about him, is unknown. It is worth noting, however, that the members of the House of Wessex had no other surname other than, "the House of Wessex," whereas ere nobility did adopt surnames. This could explain the missing surname in Truelove's (and William's) case. http://www.heraldry.jerasys.com/England1/Eyre_t.jpg. References * A short account of the family of Eyre of Eyrecourt
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