Bruce Willard D'Amour Barren is the son of James Lee Barren and Marion Frances (Willard) Barren from Philadelphia. The origin of the Barren Family, whose direct ancestry is the D'Amours Family, is described below.

The Willard family stems from the Earl of Pembroke. The Willards were from Horsmonden, Kent in England plus Eastbourne, Sussex where they were Lords of the Manor of Eastborne, being granted lands by King William the Conqueror for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in the year 1066. The family was originally named Villiard before migrating from Germany to Caen in Normandy , France. Ancestors of the family first settled in North America in New England (George Willard) in 1634 and in Virginia (Richard Willard) in 1654. Simon Willard (1604-1676), who also arrived in North America in 1634, was the Commander-in-Chief of the Colonial Forces against the Indians and the Founder of Concord, Massachusetts. Other Willard descendants in North America included two Presidents of Harvard University (founded in 1636): Rev. Samuel Willard (1701-1707) and Dr. Joseph Willard (1781-1804). The current Willard Coat of Arms is from the time of Edward III, 1327.

The Barren family is a direct descendant of the  D’Amours, whose heritage dates back to 1608 in North America. The direct family ancestral line includes Hugues Capet, 940-996 and the King of France, 987-996 (a direct descendant of Robert "le Fort" who died 866; King Eudes, who died 898; King Robert I, who died 923): was the grandson of Robert I (King of France) and the eldest son of Hugh the Great, Count of Paris and Francorum dux (Duke of the Franks) and Hadwiger, sister of the Emperor Otto. The Capet (Capetian) dynasty reigned  in France from 987 to 1328 and by collateral branches from 1328 to 1792.

Another D’Amours direct ancestor was  Eleonore d’Aquitaine (a direct descendant of the wife of Pepin I - King of Aquitaine, mother/father of Charlemagne – also known as Charles I, emperor of the West (800–814) – refer to as The Holy Roman Empire): 1122-1204. Eleonore was the mother of Richard I Lionheart. She also was the Countess of Poitou and the Duchess of Aquitaine before becoming the Queen of France as the wife of King Louis VII and later Queen of England as the wife of Henry II. Eleonore of Aquitaine and Louis VII’s grandson (their daughter was Marie de Champagne) was Henry II of Champagne (1166-1197),  King of Jerusalem from 1192 to 1197. Prior to that, another D'Amours, Godfrey de Bouillon  (1058-1100), the Duke of Lower  Lorraine, in 1099 became Jerusalem's Defender of the Sepulcher and its first Latin Ruler - King. Godfrey is also credited with the rebuilding of the City of Jaffa at that time.

The D’Amours' (a.k.a., D'Amour) original family roots are from ancient Greece and prior - Phoenicia, pre-50+ B.C.

Mr. Barren is the current family title holder of H.R.H. The Duke de Serres who is also a Commander in The Military and Hospitalier Order of Staint Lazurus of Jerusalem (a.k.a. Knights Hospitaliers or Hospitaliers) and a Chevalier in The Ordo Supremus Millitaris Tempi Hierosolymitani (a.k.a. The Templiers). Upon his death, his son, James Lee Barren, will assume the family Title. In James’ absence and with no heirs, the Title will then pass to Mr. Barren’s daughter, Christina Roseanne Barren, as H.R.H. The Duchess de Serres, and subsequently to her family off-springs.

Mr. Barren is both a lifetime member of L’Association des Familles D’Amours and the Willard Family Association of America, Inc. Both publish annual editions/ newsletters  (Le Sanglier and Willard News) regarding the respective family current activities, including  individual family histories.

History, Genealogy of the D'Amours Family

The above Family Crest uses the name of D’Amours, as it was originally spelled in 13th century – France. However, some of the descendants dropped the “s” when several members of the family moved to England and later Canada in the 1600’s.

D'Amours Family Crest Description: Originally it was on a Silver backdrop and included a sable porcupine, "lambel" on top, three nails below. It was granted in 1450 to Mathurin D’Amours (1399-1459), great grandfather of Pierre D'Amours, by Charles VII, King of France (1403-1461). However, the Family coat-of-arms was changed from the porcupine for a 'Sanglier', a boar. It was approved on October 8, 1725 by the Conseil Souverain of New France (Canada) and concurrently approved by France itself.

An early D’Amour had saved Saint Louis, a.k.a. Louis IX's life c.1246 during the "Noble's Revolt". The D’Amours were furthermore rewarded by Louis XII by having a seat on the "Conseil Royal" (Royal Council): Sieur François Damours du Serrin (son of Pierre D'Amours) was appointed on July 5th 1489, both as Councilor and as Maitre d' of King Louis XII's household. All his descendants were kept as advisors by the subsequent Kings of France, until the French Revolution of 1789.

The American ancestor of most D’Amours was MATHIEU D'AMOURS, seigneur des Chauffours et de La Morandiere, who was born in France in 1618, legitimate son of Louis D'Amours and Elizabeth Tessier.

For further family information, go to the internet, under Google: The D'Amours Roots, their Family Crest & Ancestors.