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Homer - A Remarkable Birthright

Do you wonder where the name of Homer came from?  A wonderful treatise completed over a lifetime by Rodney Prestage Homer entitled "Homer Family Heritage, vol I, II, III" combined the knowledge of over nineteen different genealogists who provided extensive research tracing and claiming the lineage of Homer family from "Creation to King Richard."

In reviewing this research, some license has been taken by the author to assume the historical accuracy of others based on lineage quoted from Christian scripture from "Adam and Eve" and the "Ten Lost Tribes of Israel."  There is also an assumption that our Norse roots north moved as part of these tribes.  But it is in these northern roots where the Homer story begins to have legs.

From Vol. I

"A Frankish boy name Audomarus became an early follower of the emerging Christian faith.  He entered the protection of the Church in Gaul during the Dark Ages..not long after the Roman Empire.  Still today, his original name is well known and commonly used in northwestern France, near the City of St. Omer.

He was born near Coustances, in what is now France, in the late sixth century.  After an adventurous young life, Audomarus sought security and seclusion as a monk.  According to the book, THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS, 'The thoughts of his parents were wholly taken up in him, and his education was their chief care.  He made the most happy progress, and his father upon the death of his wife accompanied his son to the Monastery of Luxiuil.  Humility, obedience, devotion and purity of manors distinguished Omer among his brothers.'

Following his ordination of priesthood as Father Omer, he eventually advanced through the church hierarchy to become Bishop of Therouanne, now Pas de Calais...  In 637... he became bishop of the capital city of Morini near the present city of Calais...

Fr. Omer was a leader in the attempt of the Church during the Middle Ages, to "elevate the evils of private and feudal warfare."  This 'Truce of God," or Pax Ecclesiae Dei... forbid fighting or acts of warfare from Friday to Monday and on all holy days and holy season of the year....

The Roman Catholic Church canonized this early religious leader and he became known as Saint Omer.  In the ninth century, a Jesuit monastery in his name, which was also used as fortress is still and can still be readily seen, was established in Northern France...between Normandy and Flanders...   
Our family elders originated from these descendants of their Viking fathers and their Frankish mothers.  A century or so later, when William the Conqueror sailed to England from Flanders across the channel with the mighty army, with him came Flemish Normans from the town which was named for Audomarus, or St. Omer.

One who came from Omer, or St. Omer, that person was known, for example as John from Omer, in English; or John de Omer, in the French language.  There in England, while spoken in French or Norman, it was spelled "de Homere," just like it was pronounced.  In time, through common usage, the name became anglicized to Homer."

One can visit the city St. Omer near the beautiful city of Calais in France and near the English Channel.  Click through this link for more information about this historical city:

http://www.informationfrance.com/st-omer.php 

What a remarkable story and heritage!