In illustration of this entry we may refer to the Diary of June 12th,
1667, where it is written that Roger Pepys told Samuel that "we did
certainly come out of Scotland with the Abbot of Crowland." The
references to various members of the family settled in Cottenham and
elsewhere, at an early date already alluded to, seem to show that there is
little foundation for this very positive statement.

With regard to the standing of the family, Mr. Walter Pepys writes:--

"The first of the name in 1273 were evidently but small copyholders.
Within 150 years (1420) three or four of the name had entered the
priesthood, and others had become connected with the monastery of
Croyland as bailiffs, &c. In 250 years (1520) there were certainly
two families: one at Cottenham, co. Cambridge, and another at
Braintree, co. Essex, in comfortable circumstances as yeomen
farmers. Within fifty years more (1563), one of the family, Thomas,
of Southcreeke, co. Norfolk, had entered the ranks of the gentry
sufficiently to have his coat-of-arms recognized by the Herald
Cooke, who conducted the Visitation of Norfolk in that year. From
that date the majority of the family have been in good
circumstances, with perhaps more than the average of its members
taking up public positions."

There is a very general notion that Samuel Pepys was of plebeian birth
because his father followed the trade of a tailor, and his own remark,
"But I believe indeed our family were never considerable,"--[February
10th, 1661-62.] has been brought forward in corroboration of this view,
but nothing can possibly be more erroneous, and there can be no doubt that
the Diarist was really proud of his descent. This may be seen from the
inscription on one of his book-plates, where he is stated to be:--