The family is said to have been descended from Sir Brews Gawdey, a French knight taken prisoner by the English in 1352 in Aquitaine, south west France.

He was naturalised and settled in East Anglia, where his family became prominent.

One descendant Sir Bassingbourne Gawdie had an estate at West Harling and was High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1573, 1593 and 1601.

He also served as a Justice of the Peace and deputy lieutenant for the county, as well as MP for Thetford.

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