Robert Avenel

Robert Avenel (died 8 March 1185) was a 12th-century Anglo-Norman magnate. He was ruler of the small former Northumbrian province of Eskdale in Dumfriesshire, as well as Abercorn in West Lothian. He was one of a small number of Anglo-Norman immigrants to have been given a provincial lordship in southern Scotland in the early-to-mid 12th century. For some period in the 1170s he served as Justiciar in Lothian (along with three others). He also had some part of the township of Innerwick. He seems to have held this of Walter fitz Alan. He had entered the monastery of Melrose shortly before his death. He had three sons, by his wife Sybil, Gervase, Vincent and Robert, the latter of whom became a clerk. Gervase was Robert's principal heir, and the latter also served as Justiciar of Lothian.

Robert had a daughter who was a concubine of William the Lion, king of the Scots. The king and Robert Avenel's daughter had a daughter named Isabella, who was given as wife in 1183 to Robert III de Brus, son of Robert II de Brus, lord of Annandale.