This family was presumably descended from the comtes de Hesdin.
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Domesday Book records that “Ernulf de Hesdin” held Farningham, Axton Hundred, and Chelsfield, Helmestrei Hundred, and Cliff and Haven in Shamwell Hundred, in Kent of the bishop of Bayeux, Combe in Hurstbourne Hundred in Hampshire/Berkshire, Newbury in Thatcham Hundred in Berkshire, numerous land-holdings in Wiltshire, land in Dorset including Kington Magna and Melbury, Ruislip in Middlesex. "Ernulph de Hesding" donated the manor and church of Ruislip, Middlesex to the abbey of Bec. The Historia sancti Petri Gloucestriæ records that "Ernulphus de Hesdyng" donated "ecclesiam de Heythrop, Lynkbolt…et ecclesiam de Kynemerforde", confirmed by "Patricius de Cadurcis et Matilda uxor eius", and by "hæredum suorum" in "quatuor cartæ", in the fourth of which "Paganus filius Patricii" donated "decimam domini sui de Kynermerforde", that "Johannes episcopus" confirmed and donated "quatuor marcas annuas in ecclesia de Kynermerforde", with the confirmation of "Rex Henricus senior…tempore Serlonis abbatis" [abbot from 1072 to 1104]. A charter of Stephen King of England dated 1138 confirmed donations to Gloucester St Peter including the donation by "Ernulfi de Hesding et Emelina uxoris eius" of “ecclesiam de Nortuna". "…Ernulfus de Hesding" witnessed the charter dated 27 Jan 1091 under which William II King of England confirmed the status of Bath abbey.
The Chronicle of Hyde records that "Ernulfus de Hednith" was unjustly accused of treason but successfully defended himself by trial of battle (dated to [1096] from the context), and left on Crusade and died at Antioch. "Patricius" donated "v hidas terræ de Westona" to Bath St Peter, for the souls of "…Arnulfi de Hesding…", by charter dated 14 Sep 1100. 1
Also called Ernulf de Hesding.