One royal family, unbroken, rules since 987. The House of Howard is an English noble house founded by John Howard, who was created Duke of Norfolk (third creation) by King Richard III of England in 1483. Family members have held a number of respected titles like Dukes and Barons. They started simply as additional names and later were regarded as family names as today. The current head of the family is the Duke of Devonshire, one of a handful of Dukedoms left in England. ... after ruling in the Netherlands for while. Earl, the oldest title of the peerage, dates from Anglo-Saxon times. And that was what the question asked. Initially, the inhabitants of England lived in small groups on farms and in villages under the feudal system. Peerage of Great Britain 5. This article serves as an introduction to the British peerage*, which has evolved over the centuries into the five ranks that exist today: duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron. Above all, it was an age of paradox and power. After the extinction of this family, Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy, was, in 1603, created Earl of Devonshire. The use of surnames became prominent following the Norman Conquest in 1066, when the population began to grow exponentially. King Edward the Confessor, who was childless, named him his heir, as he was the only other man left of the House of Wessex. The title became extinct by his death in 1606. The average and poor families of the late 17th century England did not yet have the luxury of piped water, which created a rarity in bathing. However, 2 days after arriving back in England… In 1618, William Cavendish was created Earl of Devonshire, and the title has continued ever since in this noble family, who in 1694 were elevated to the dukedom. That the Danish royal family is the oldest is a totally forgivable fiction perpetuated by the Danes, justifiably proud of their Queen. The concept of inheritance was often a source of tension for many families. Therefore a Baron of the United Kingdom is a lower grade than a Baron of England… However, this agnatic-only rule was abolished like in England, and so the current head is Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. "The oldest noble family" is a somewhat fictional concept: When a 'House' starts or ends is somewhat arbitrary, and not uniformly handled throughout European history. After the Danes were driven out of England, Edward the Exile, son of King Edmund Ironside, returned to England from Sweden. It is the oldest castle in England to be continuously owned and used by the same family and contains a bed which has been identified as the oldest piece of furniture used by a single family. Victorian History, Fashion, Sports, Culture and Social History of the Victorian Era 1837-1901. Retrieved from "https://familypedia.wikia.org/wiki/Category:Noble_families_of_the_United_Kingdom?oldid=1197658" The family was founded in the mid 14th century and they have the most badass coat of arms I’ve ever seen. However, John was also the eldest grandson (although maternal) of the 1st Duke of the first creation. The Berkeley family, originally the Fitzhardings, were granted the castle in the 1100s and have held it ever since. n7. The oldest son of each family would stay as home as well, in order to inherit the farm. Peerage of United Kingdom Also peerages are ranked based on creation date. Aristocracy in England, Nobility, Peers, Peeresses, and other People, What made Victorians Victorian, The Victorian age was not one, not single, simple, or unified; Victoria's reign lasted so long that it comprised several periods.