Research Notes:

The family of Hamelin Lord of Abergavenny originated in Ballon in Maine, which is located about 20 kilometres north of the city of Le Mans. The name Wionec (“Wyonecum”) given by Dreux de Baladon to his second son suggests a Breton family connection: the name roots “Gue-“ or “Guy-“ (equivalent to “Wio-“) and “-ec” are found among the Breton nobility in the 9th and 10th centuries... However, the name could have been introduced into the family from Dreux´s wife whose identity is not known. The early history of this family is based only on the Historia fundationis cum fundatoris genealogia of the priory of Abergavenny which is dateable to the early 14th century, the date of the last events recorded... ¹