Vavasour family
The Vavasour family are an English Catholic family whose history dates back to Norman times. There are several branches of the family, some of whom have intermarried with other notable Catholic families, and are descended from William le Vavasour. History. They are featured on the Battle Abbey Roll and lived at Hazlewood Castle from the time of the Domesday Book until 1908. The Vavasours are of Anglo-Norman descent and the various branches of the family are said to have descended from William le Valvasour, paternal grandfather of Maud le Vavasour, Baroness Butler. During the years between the  English Reformation up until the Catholic Emancipation, the Vavasours were noted as a recusant family for remaining staunchly Catholic despite being fined numerous times. By showing up at services several times a year and pretending to conform to Anglicanism, they largely escaped persecution and managed to retain their property and wealth. In 1985, the Vavasour family established Vavasour Wines, a vineyard in the Awatere Valley of Marlborough, New Zealand. Notable members of the family. Baronets (1628 Baronetcy of Hazlewood, Yorkshire). The first (and now extinct) Vavasour Baronetcy. The baronetcy became extinct upon the death of the 7th baronet. Baronets (1828  Baronetcy of Hazlewood, Yorkshire). The fifth creation of the Vavasour baronetcy and the only one still extant.