Earl Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt in the County of Oxford, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1749 for Simon Harcourt, 2nd Viscount Harcourt. He was made Viscount Nuneham at the same time, also in the Peerage of Great Britain. Harcourt was the son of the Honourable Simon Harcourt and the grandson of Simon Harcourt, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, who had been created Baron Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt in the County of Oxford, in 1711, and Viscount Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt in the County of Oxford, in 1721. Both these titles were also in the Peerage of Great Britain. Two of the first Earl's sons, George, the second Earl, and William, the third Earl, both succeeded in the titles. The peerages became extinct on the latter's death in 1830.
The viscountcy was revived in 1917 in favour of Lewis Vernon Harcourt. He was a descendant of the Right Reverend Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, the son of George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon, by his third wife Martha Harcourt, daughter of the aforementioned Simon Harcourt, son of Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt. See Viscount Harcourt for further history of this branch of the family.
The ancient family of Harcourt held Stanton Harcourt. Oxfordshire from the 12th century and other later Oxfordshire seats included Cokethorpe House and Nuneham House. In addition they held estates in Staffordshire at Ellenhall Hall and Abbey House, Ranton Priory.