The Percy Family
William de Percy (d.1096), was the first member of the Percy family to come to England on the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066. He came from the Caen region of the medieval duchy of Normandy, where villages still bear the name Perci.
His descendant, Henry Lord Percy, bought Alnwick Castle in 1309 and moved his family to Northumberland from their estates in Yorkshire, starting an extraordinary relationship between family and town which has lasted for over 700 years. Click here for the Percy family tree.
One of the most famous and exciting members of the Percy family was Harry 'Hotspur' Percy (1364-1403), whose statue you can see outside Knight's Quest in one of the courtyards of the Castle.
Hotspur was born in Alnwick Castle and whilst only a teenager was brave enough to go into battle against the fearsome Scots! He quickly earned the nickname 'Hotspur' for his great courage and impetuousness. He became such a famous knight that he was immortalised by Shakespeare in his play, Henry IV.
Generations of family members have contributed to both Alnwick Castle and the Estate, adding land and property, fine art and collections, which combine to make Alnwick Castle a truly unique place to visit in Northumberland.
Throughout history, the Percy family have combined their commitment to Alnwick with their duties as a powerful noble family and royal servants. Percys have always been involved in milestones in our national history, participating in the medieval Crusades, the Tudor Pilgrimage of Grace, the Gunpowder Plot and both World Wars.