morant was born in ireland 8 august 1837 - there also being record of his baptism in the parish of farnborough, hampshire on 20 january 1838, with parents george and lydia morant - the elder son of george morant, of shirley house, carrickmacross, and lydia hemphill, daughter of john hemphill, of rathkeany, co. tipperary. morant's father served in the grenadier guards, and was a justice of the peace. the senior line of the morant family (the elder george morant being grandson of the former head of the family) lived at brockenhurst, hampshire, and claimed norman descent tracing back from william de moraunt, of moraunt's court, in kent, who was high sheriff of that county in 1337 and 1338, during the reign of king edward iii. they were later resident in jamaica, and owned plantations there.