Egerton family

The Egerton family (pronunciation: "edger-ton") is a British aristocratic family. Over time, several members of the Egerton family were made knights, baronets and peers. Hereditary titles held by the Egerton family include the dukedoms of Bridgewater (1720–1803) and Sutherland (since 1963), as well as the earldoms of Bridgewater (1617–1829), Wilton (1801–1999) and Egerton (1897–1909). Several other members of the family have also risen to prominence.

The Egertons are an ancient Cheshire family, seated at Oulton Park near Tarporley since the Middle Ages. An ancestor of the 1st Baronet, William le Belward, took the surname of Egerton from the lordship of Egerton, which he inherited. In 1617, Roland Egerton was created a baronet (see Grey Egerton baronets). He later represented Wootton Bassett in Parliament and married Bridget, sister and co-heir of Thomas Grey, 15th Baron Grey de Wilton. In 1784, the 7th Baronet was created Baron Grey de Wilton and in 1801 he was further created Viscount Grey de Wilton and Earl of Wilton. These titles were created with special remainder to the second and the younger sons successively of his daughter Lady Eleanor Egerton, who married Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster. On Lord Wilton's death in 1814 the barony became extinct, while he was succeeded in the viscountcy and earldom according to the special remainder by his grandson Thomas Grosvenor (1799–1882), who assumed the surname of Egerton. The Grey Egerton baronetcy passed to a distant relative, the 8th Baronet. The ninth Baronet was in 1825 granted by Royal Warrant the right to assume for themselves only the additional surname of and the arms and supporters of Grey de Wilton. The viscountcy and earldom of Wilton continued to descend in this branch of the family until the death of the 7th Earl in 1999. When he died without children, his titles passed to Francis Grosvenor, 6th Baron Ebury (b. 1934), a descendant of Robert Grosvenor (1801–1893), 1st Baron Ebury, the third son of Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster and his wife Eleanora Egerton, daughter of the 1st Earl of Wilton.

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