NN (possibly Hugues or Hugh) de Lacy

There is no evidence as to the first name of the father of Ilbert and Walter de Lacy (Laci, Lasci, Lassy).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Lacy#Robert_de_Lacy_.28Lascy.2C_Lac...

de Lacy (Laci, Lacie, Lacey, Lascy, Lasci) is the surname of an old Norman family whose home castle was in the village of Lasci (today Lassy), 20km (12½m) from Vire in what was then Normandy. The shape of their castle can still be detected in a field at the edge of the village.

Ilbert ([H]ilbertus) and Walter (Walterus) de Lacy are the two Lords of Lasci who in 1066 accompanied Duke William II of Normandy to England and fought the Battle of Hastings. They became the founders of two separate families by the name of de Lacy in the United Kingdom.

The two Lords of Lasci were chevaliers (knights) who fought in 1066 in the Battle of Hastings in one of the "conrois" (tactical unit of the army) with others from the area around Vire. It is said that "the lords of Lassy..."struck the English" (Anglo-Saxons) "impetuously, not fearing pike or ditch" while fighting for Duke William II of Normandy (William the Conqueror) during the Norman conquest of England.[4]. Despite this bravery they were not amongst the favoured few who were individually named as having participated in the Battle of Hastings.

Ilbert and Walter are strongly believed to be brothers. Proof of their relationship comes from their estate in Normandy. Heirs of both families shared in the inheritance of the estates of the family de Lacy in Normandy. The single holding was held jointly by descendants of both Ilbert and Walter by the Norman tenure of parage. Under parage land was divided amongst the sons and daughters whilst at the same time remaining a single fee. This tenure could only apply to a family holding, and the family link must have been via Ilbert and Walter as sons of the same father as shown in the details of the dissolution of the joint fee.

Ilbert and Walter were hereditary fiefs (tenants) of Bishop Odo of Bayeux[3][4], who in turn was a fief to the Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror. As fiefs they were expected to maintain the fief, with the castle and other buildings in good order and the land under cultivation; to contribute to the wealth of the Bishop by turning over part of the collected rents and farm products. One of the key elements of a fief was the aspect of military service. This meant supplying equipped armed warriors and horses when they were needed, and going to war when ordered to.[6] After the victory at the Battle of Hastings both Ilbert and Walter, like other Norman Lords, were individually rewarded by the grant of control of land in conquered England, while continuing to also control the fief in Normandy of both Lasci and Campeaux (which is 20km (12½m) from Lasci). "This fief" (in Normandy) "was afterwards held in parage" (equality in inheritance) "by the heirs of Walter and Ilbert".

Ilbert was probably the older brother. During the Battle of Hastings in 1066 Ilbert followed his Norman overlord, Bishop Odo of Bayeux, into England, and then became enfeoffed as a tenant of the Bishop soon afterward, before later being able to be a tenant-in-chief direct of the king. In contrast Walter arrived in the train of William FitzOsbern. The younger brother would probably have no obligation to follow his liege lord outside Normandy and thus could choose to attach himself to the most convenient leader he could find. Walter was still attached to William FitzOsbern for the campaign into Wales in 1069, while Ilbert was following his liege lord in "The Harrying of the North" of England. An additional piece of evidence comes from the grant of 22 acres of land at Montmain in Normandy to the Nunnery of St. Amand by "Emma, the mother of Ilbert de Lacy". She was described as such to distinguish her from the Abbess of St. Amand by the same name. This implies either that Ilbert was the more important of the two brothers in Normandy, and under the rules of tenure by parage therefore the elder, or else that Walter was not Emma's son, but either an elder son from an earlier marriage of their father, or a cousin. The first is excluded by Ilbert being the brother who accompanied his Norman overlord, the Bishop of Bayeux, into England. If they were brothers then Ilbert was the older. The second is impossible in view of the later descent of the fee. It is most likely that Ilbert was the elder brother, and that Emma was the mother to both men.[5] Further evidence that Emma was probably the mother of both men comes from the naming of Walter's 2 daughters, one was named after his wife, and the other was given the name Emma.

Ilbert and Walter, with their mother Emma, are the earliest members of the family for whom there are records. It is believed that their father's name may have been Hugh, as they both named a son by this name.