While there is no evidence to suggest any connection to my ancestors, it is interesting to look at some of the people through the ages who have carried the name Noers, Norreys, Norris or Nurse.

In this article I describe the life of Sir Henry Norris a friend of King Henry VIII.

Over the centuries the “Le Norreys” or “Norreys” line appears to have adopted the more English sounding name “Norris”.

By far the most famous of all Norrises is Sir Henry Norris. Sir Henry was probably the second son of Sir Edward Norreys, and Frideswide Lovel, daughter and co-heir of Francis, Viscount Lovel, and was probably born during the reign of Edward IV.(see “Henry Norris (Courtier)” 2023)

However there is some dispute over his parentage, as some historians claim that Henry was the son of Sir Edward Norreys’ younger brother Richard. Regardless, his grandfather was Sir William Norreys who had taken part in the Battle of Stoke Field on 16^th June 1487

Henry Norris became one of the six gentlemen-in-waiting for King Henry VIII and apparently a good friend, often being used to relay messages to other close associates of the King.(see Jokinen 1996-2023) Even though he gained tremendously financially from his closeness to the King, he was to pay for this closeness in another way, namely his closeness to the Queen, Anne Boleyn. In fact he was arrested and charged as one of the Queen’s lovers, when the Queen was arrested and charged with adultery.

At the trial on May 12^th 1536 Henry pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty and Sir Henry Norris was beheaded on May 17^th 1536 on Tower Hill. According to Sir Robert Naunton¹, Queen Elizabeth I always honoured his memory believing that he had died “in a noble cause and in the justification of her mother’s innocence”.

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