From Verlai in Normandy. “In 1086 Turold de Verlai held thirteen lordships in Salop from Earl Roger, of which Chetwynd appears to have been the chief (Eyton, Salop). Robert his son was a baron in the time of Henry I., and before 1121 witnessed a charter in favour of Salop Abbey (Ibid.). He was living 1141, and was father of Robert de Verlai, who, with his father, gave Verlai Church, Normandy, to Essex Abbey, which grant was confirmed by Henry II.” - The Norman People. One of these two Roberts was probably the founder of Swine Priory in Yorkshire. “This Priory (according to Tanner) was founded before the reign of Stephen by Robert de Verli, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In the reign of Henry I. there was a Hugo de Verli who gave to John Lascels half a carucate at Swine; and in 1184 one of the same name gave 40s. to the King that he might be quit of his oath in a plea of land against William de Ottringham. Robert de Verli, 5 Hen. III., grants to Henry de Pocklington and Margaret his wife the homage of John de Wilton. Another - Henry de Verli - is mentioned in a subsequent page of the Chartulary. From these several circumstances it may be inferred that the De Verlis were residents in Holderness.” - Poulson’s Holderness. Richard and Alan de Verlin witness Alan de Monceaux’s grant to Nuncote (Mon. Angl.). Hugh de Verli held four knights’ fees of the Honour of Richmond. - Gale’s Richmondshire.

In Essex, the family held Salcot-Verli (now Salcote Virle) under Robert Gernon at the date of Domesday, and from being sub-tenants, at length came to be sole proprietors. Robert de Verli, in 1275, held four knights’ fees of the Barony of Stanstead. His grandson Sir Philip, who was knight of the shire in 1319, received a writ of military summons in 1322, and another to attend the great Council at Westminster in 1324. Robert, the next heir, married a daughter of Sir Ralph Gernon, by Lady Alianor de Vere, and was the father of Philip, with whose two sons, John, and Roger, Morant closes the genealogy. John, as he tells us, died childless; and of Roger’s posterity he does not speak.

Verli’s Manor keeps their name in Norfolk. Ralph de Verli, 8 Ric. I., is the first mentioned there. “Hugh de Verli, in 1243, held two knights’ fees, part of the dower of the Lady Isabel, widow of Hugh, Earl of Sussex.” - Bloomfield's Norfolk. The first “Sir Philip,” he further tells us, “writes himself in some of his deeds, De Tolleshunt, a town in Essex, where he seems to have had his residence. One of his daughters and co-heirs, Isabel, married Ralph de Bagthorp; another .... Prick.”

A Norman name: Verlée, local name, Flanders.