[Illustration] Ormus, at the period of the Norman Conquest was Lord
of Okeover by grant of Nigel, Abbot of Burton. He is the direct
ancestor of this venerable house, which has been ever since in
possession of the ancient seat which gives name to the family, and
which lies on the very edge of the county, near Ashbourne in
Derbyshire.
See Wood's MSS. 8594, vol. 6, for a very curious and valuable
cartulary of the Okeovers, and Dodsworth's MSS. 5037, vol. 96, fol.
17 (both in the Bodleian Library); see also Erdeswick's
Staffordshire, Harwood's ed. 1844, p. 487; Shaw's Staffordshire,
vol. i. p. 26; and the Topographer, ii. p. 313.
ARMS.--_Ermine, on a chief gules three bezants_. This coat was borne
by Monsieur Philip de Oker, in the reign of Richard II. (Roll).
Present Representative, Haughton Charles Okeover, Esq.