page_title: Eliot family (South England)
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Eliot family (South England) / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Sir John Eliot (1592-1632)
context_page_description: The Eliot family is a British aristocratic family whose members include earls, barons, counts, knights, governors, peers, and Members of Parliament. The main factions are the Earls of St Germans and the Eliot Military Family, which encompasses the Count Eliots.
context_section_description: The Eliots earliest known ancestor is Norman knight Sir William de Aliot, who held a distinguished rank during the Norman conquest of England in 1066. When William the Conqueror first stepped on British soil de Aliot proclaimed, for all to see, that he would defend Williams right to England with his life. As a reward for his loyalty, The Conqueror gave de Aliot an honourable coat of arms. De Aliot's descendants include the surnames Eliot, Elliot, Elliott, Elyot, and Elyotte.
  It is unknown exactly when the Eliots settled in Devon, however it is estimated they prospered there for 8 to 10 generations. The earliest written record of the surname is an indenture signed in 1400 by RYC Elyot. John Eliot of Devonshire (born 1375) is a common ancestor for all Eliots of South England. He had two sons, Mychell (born 1414) and Walter (born 1433). Mychell's family took residence in East Coker while Walter remained in Devon. Walter's son William married Joan Coteland, daughter and heir of Nicholas Coteland of Cutland. In 1480 they had a son John Eliot of Cutland who married Joan Bonville, granddaughter of William Bonville, 1st Baron Bonville. Edward Eliot of Cutland (died 1522) was third cousins with Sir Thomas Elyot, son of Sir Richard Elyot and descendant of Mychell Eliot.
  During the reign of King Henry VIII the Eliot family gained significant wealth through privateering. In 1564 John Eliot, son of Edward Eliot of Cutland, purchased the priory of St Germans and the family relocated from Devon to St Germans, Cornwall. The priory was renamed Port Eliot and experienced significant expansion with many farms and cottages being added to the property. The main house features 123 rooms, 13 staircases, and 83 chimneys.
  Sir John Eliot was born at Port Eliot on April 11, 1592. Quickly rising to political power, he was a prominent advocation for the rights of Parliament. His serial imprisonment at the Tower of London by King Charles I and the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death in 1632 where important catalysts in the growing dispute between parliament and the king. After Sir John's death, Port Eliot was passed to his eldest son John Eliot (1612-1685). However, his sons Daniel Eliot (1646-1702) and Richard Eliot (1652-1685) both died without male heirs, causing confusion as to who would inherit Port Eliot. Sir John's second son Richard Eliot (born 1614) only had an illegitimate son, while Sir John's third son Edward Eliot (1618-1710) also died without an heir. The port was inherited by Edward Eliot (died 1723), the grandson of Sir John's youngest son Nicholas Eliot. Following Edwards death in 1723 the port was passed to his brother Richard Eliot (died 1748).
caption: Sir John Eliot
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