House of Howard

Howard family
Armorial of Howard - granted to Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk
Country	Kingdom of England, United Kingdom
Titles	Numerous titles *Duke of Norfolk Cardinal protector of England Earl of Arundel Earl of Surrey Earl of Norfolk Earl of Effingham Earl of Nottingham Earl of Berkshire Earl of Norwich Viscount FitzAlan of Derwent Baron Stafford Baron Lanerton Baron Furnivall Baron Howard Baron Howard of Castle Rising Baron Howard of Charlton Baron Howard of Effingham Baron Howard of Escrick Baron Howard of Glossop Baron Howard of Henderskelfe Baron Howard of Marnhull Baron Howard of Penrith Baron Howard of Rising Baron Howard de Walden
Founded	1483
Founder	John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk
Current head	Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk
Cadet branches	Howards of Effingham Howards of Carlisle Howards of Suffolk Howards of Penrith

The Howard family is an English aristocratic family founded by John Howard who was created Duke of Norfolk (3rd creation) by Plantagenet monarch Richard III of England in 1483. However, John was also the eldest (although maternal) grandson of the 1st Duke of 1st creation. The Howards have been part of the peerage since the 15th century and remain the Premier Dukes of the Realm in the Peerage of England, acting as Earl Marshal of England. After the English Reformation many Howards remained steadfast in their Catholic faith as the most high-profile recusant family; two members, Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel, and William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford, are regarded as martyrs: a saint and a blessed respectively.

The senior line of the house, as well as holding the Dukedom of Norfolk, are also Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey and Earl of Norfolk, as well as holding six baronies. The Arundel title was inherited in 1580, when the Howards became the genealogical successors to the paternally extinct FitzAlans, ancient kin to the Stuarts, dating back to when the family first arrived in Great Britain from Brittany (see Alan fitz Flaad). Thomas Howard, the 4th Duke of Norfolk, married as his first wife Mary FitzAlan; who, after the death of her brother Henry in 1556, became heiress to the Arundel Estates of her father Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel. Her son was the above-mentioned Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel. It is from this marriage that the present Duke of Norfolk takes his name of 'FitzAlan-Howard' and why his seat is in Arundel Castle. There have also been several notable cadet branches; those existing to this day include the Howards of Effingham, Howards of Carlisle, Howards of Suffolk and Howards of Penrith. The former three are earldoms and the latter a barony.