Osbern fitz Richard

Osbern fitzRichard (sometimes Osbern fitz Richard Scrob; died after 1088) was a Frenchman, perhaps Norman, who was a landowner and tenant-in-chief in England. Osbern served as a royal judge and sided with the baronial rebels at the start of King William II's reign, although he later returned to the king's service.

Background Osbern was the son of Richard Scrob, who arrived in England before the Norman Conquest of England. Richard's origins are not known for certain, except that he is from France, and may have been a Norman. Richard was the builder of Richard's Castle in Herefordshire, one of the few castles in England that predates the Norman Conquest.

Career Osbern held Richard's Castle at the time of Domesday Book in 1086. His holding of Richard's Castle as a tenant-in-chief is considered to have made him a feudal baron. and Ealdgyth. Ealdgyth was the daughter of Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia.

Osbern and his wife had a son, Hugh fitzOsbern, and a daughter, Nesta (or perhaps Agnes), who married Bernard de Neufmarché. Osbern perhaps had another son, Turstin, who is named as the brother of Hugh fitzOsbern in a charter of Osbern fitzPons.

Osbern's date of death is unknown, occurring sometime after 1088, perhaps after 1100. His heir was his son, Hugh.