Reginald Fitzurse

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Sir Reginald FitzUrse (died 1173^[1]) was one of the four knights who murdered Thomas Becket. He delivered the first blow to Becket's head.

His name is derived from Fitz which means son of, and Urse which means bear. His shield was charged with a bear.

Fitzurse held lands at Williton, Somerset, in Northamptonshire, and at Barham, Kent, between Canterbury and Dover. He lived for a time at Barham Court in Teston. The name of the town Barham is derived from Bear (Urse in FitzUrse) and Ham because it was a hamlet.

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Fitzurse is rumoured to have fled to Ireland where he fathered the McMahon clan.^{[citation needed]} Note that McMahon also means: Mc which means son of, and Mahon which means bear. He simply translated his surname.^{[citation needed]}

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