Designer John Sermon can trace his family back to the 12th century and boasts a Royal physician among his ancestors. During 40 years research Mr Sermon, who lives in Hethe, near Bicester, has traced 200 members of the family who form a one-name society.

He produces a bi-annual magazine called The Pulpit which is posted to branches of the family in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Germany.

He has now decided to write a book about the family's history.

Mr Sermon, 66, said: "I've traced the name back to 1190, that was in Sibford Gower in north Oxfordshire.

"The name was written by a Latin monk as Gilberto Sermo Cinarus. The name was automatically converted to Latin - it would have been Gilbert Sermon.

"He granted land for the Knight Templars to build a chapel. They were acquiring land to raise money for the Knight Templars in Jerusalem during the Crusades.

"Between 1190 and 1327 the name was continuously mentioned in the village."

Mr Sermon said the original name was recorded spelled in various different ways including Sermoner and Le Predicatoris which all mean The Orator. Now the most common spellings of the name are Sermon, Sirman, and Surman. Members of the family range from famous to infamous.

Mr Sermon said: "There is a Dr William Sermon born in 1626 in Worcestershire who became the personal physician to Charles II. He died in 1679 and he was a very rich man.

"There was also a William Sermon, of Compton, near Didcot, who was transported to Australia in 1853 for stealing lead off the church roof.

"He died in the 1920s and had five big farms which he left to his five sons. He died a multi-millionaire so they did him a favour by transporting him.

"Another person is John Surman who is now a major modern jazz saxophonist."

The family name is virtually unknown in origin outside Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

International family members have contacted Mr Sermon by e-mail after he set up a web site on the Internet.

If any Oxford Mail readers have managed to trace their roots back to 1190 or beyond, call the newsdesk on 01865 425444

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