Percy family

Percy
Arms of Percy modern: Or, a lion rampant azure, as shown on the seal of Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy (d. 1314) affixed to the Barons' Letter, 1301 and blazoned with tinctures as his arms in the Caerlaverock Poem Roll of Arms of 1300
Parent house	House of Brabant (since the late 12th century) House of Smithson (since the mid 18th century)
Country	Kingdom of England, United Kingdom
Founded	1067;957 years ago (1067)
Founder	William de Percy (d. 1096), 1st feudal baron of Topcliffe
Current head	Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland
Seat	Alnwick Castle
Titles	Duke of Northumberland Earl of Worcester Earl of Egremont Baron Percy
Estate(s)	Warkworth Castle Northumberland House Petworth House Stanwick Park Prudhoe Castle Albury Park Syon House Topcliffe Castle Kielder Castle

Arms of Percy ancient: Azure, five fusils conjoined in fesse or These arms are still quartered by the Dukes of Northumberland, but were superseded c. 1300 by the adoption by Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy (d.1314) of the arms Or, a lion rampant azure, the source for which is variously given as the "Lion of Brabant", the extinct arms of Redvers, Earls of Devon, or the Lion of Arundel combined with the tinctures of Warenne

The Percy family is an ancient English noble family. They were among the oldest and most powerful noble families in Northern England for much of the Middle Ages. The noble family is known for its long rivalry with the House of Neville, another family powerful in northern England during the 15th century. The feud between the two families, known as the Percy-Neville feud led to the Wars of the Roses, at the time known as the Civil Wars, in England.

The House of Percy descends from William de Percy (d. 1096), a Norman who crossed to England after William the Conqueror in early December 1067. William de Percy was created as the 1st feudal baron of Topcliffe in Yorkshire. ^[4] He was rebuilding York Castle in 1070.

The Percy surname derivesfrom the manor of Percy-en-Auge in Normandy, the home of the Percy family at the time of the Norman Conquest. ^[5] Family members have held the titles of Earl of Northumberland or Duke of Northumberland to this day, in addition to Baron Percy and others.

The Percy surname twice died out in the male line only to be re-adopted later by the husband or son of a Percy heiress. In the 12th century, the original Percy line was represented by Agnes de Percy, whose son by her husband Joscelin of Louvain adopted the surname. Again in the 18th century, the heiress Elizabeth Seymour married Sir Hugh Smithson, who adopted the surname Percy and was created Duke of Northumberland. ^[6]

Earls of Northumberland

Part of this section is transcluded from Earl of Northumberland. (edit | history)

Left: Paternal arms of Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy (1273–1314): Azure, five fusils in fess or, ^[7] ("Percy ancient") which he abandoned in favour of right: Or, a lion rampant azure ("Percy modern"/Brabant) ^[8] Both arms were quartered by the Percy Earls of Northumberland and remain quartered by the present Duke of Northumberland

William de Percy, 1st Baron Percy, was in the train of William I.^{[ citation needed ]} After arriving in England following the Harrying of the North (1069–70), he was bestowed modest estates in Yorkshire by Hugh d'Avranches. However, by the reign of Henry II the family was represented by only an heiress, Agnes de Percy (died 1203) following the death of the third feudal baron. As her dowry contained the manor of Topcliffe in Yorkshire, Adeliza of Louvain, the widowed and remarried second wife of Henry I, arranged the marriage of Agnes with her own young half-brother, Joscelin of Louvain. After their wedding, the nobleman from the Duchy of Brabant in the Holy Roman Empire settled in England. He adopted the surname Percy and his descendants were later created Earls of Northumberland. The Percys' line would go on to play a large role in the history of both England and Scotland. As nearly every Percy was a Warden of the Marches, Scottish affairs were often of more concern than those in England. ^[9]

1309: 1st Baron Percy

In 1309, Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy purchased Alnwick Castle from Antony Bek, Bishop of Durham. The castle had been founded in the late 11th century by Ivo de Vesci, a nobleman from Vassy or Vichy. A descendant of Ivo de Vesci, John de Vesci, succeeded to his father's titles and estates upon his father's death in Gascony in 1253. These included the barony of Alnwick and a large property in Northumberland and considerable estates in Yorkshire, including Malton. Due to being under age, King Henry III of England conferred the wardship of John's estates to a foreign kinsman, which caused great offence to the de Vesci family. The family's property and estates had been put into the guardianship of Bek, who sold them to the Percys. From this time, the fortunes of the Percys, although they still held their Yorkshire lands and titles, were linked permanently with Alnwick and its castle.^{[ citation needed ]}

1316: 2nd Baron Percy

Henry de Percy, 2nd Baron Percy, who was granted the lands of Patrick IV, Earl of March, in Northumberland, by Edward II in 1316, began to improve the size and defences of the castle. He was appointed to Edward III's Council in 1327 and was given the manor and castle of Skipton. Was granted, by Edward III, the castle and barony of Warkworth in 1328. He was at the siege of Dunbar and the Battle of Halidon Hill and was subsequently appointed constable of Berwick-upon-Tweed. In 1346, Henry commanded the right wing of the English Army which defeated a larger Scottish force at the Battle of Neville's Cross near Durham. His son, Henry de Percy, 3rd Baron Percy married Mary of Lancaster, an aunt of John of Gaunt's wife Blanche of Lancaster. ^[9]

17th-century Percy Window in Petworth House, Sussex, displaying in stained glass 9 heraldic escutcheons of quartered arms of 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, father of 7th & 8th, 7th, 8th & 9th Percy Earls of Northumberland, each impaling the quartered arms of his wife.

In 1377, the next Henry Percy was created Earl of Northumberland, a title given to him after the coronation of Richard II. He supported the takeover by Henry IV but subsequently rebelled against the new king, leading to his estates being forfeited under attainder. In his rebellion he was aided by his son, the most famous Percy of all, Henry "Hotspur", who was slain at Shrewsbury in the lifetime of his father. ^[9] Both the 1st Earl of Northumberland as well as his son Hotspur play a chief role in Shakespeare's Henry IV . Henry V restored Hotspur's son, the second Earl, to his family honours, and the Percys were staunch Lancastrians during the Wars of the Roses which followed, the third Earl and three of his brothers losing their lives in the cause. ^[9]

The fourth Earl was involved in the political manoeuvrings of the last Yorkist kings Edward IV and Richard III. Through either indecision or treachery he did not respond in a timely manner at the Battle of Bosworth Field, and thus helped cause his ally Richard III's defeat at the hands of Henry Tudor (who became Henry VII). In 1489, he was pulled from his horse and murdered by some of his tenants.^{[ citation needed ]}

The fifth Earl displayed magnificence in his tastes, and being one of the richest magnates of his day, kept a very large household establishment.^{[ citation needed ]}

Henry Percy, the sixth Earl of Northumberland, loved Anne Boleyn, and was her accepted suitor before Henry VIII married her. He married later to Mary Talbot, the daughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury, but as he died without a son, his nephew Thomas Percy became the seventh Earl. ^[9]

Thereafter, a succession of plots and counterplots—the Rising of the North, the plots to liberate Mary Queen of Scots, and the Gunpowder Plot – each claimed a Percy among their adherents. On this account the eighth and ninth Earls spent many years in the Tower, but the tenth Earl, Algernon, fought against King Charles in the Civil War, the male line of the Percy-Louvain house ending with Josceline, the eleventh Earl. The heiress to the vast Percy estates married the Duke of Somerset; and her granddaughter married a Yorkshire knight, Sir Hugh Smithson, who in 1766 was created the first Duke of Northumberland and Earl Percy, and it is their descendants who now represent the famous old house. ^[9]

The current duke lives at Alnwick Castle and Syon House, just outside London.

Dukes of Northumberland

Part of this section is transcluded from Duke of Northumberland. (edit | history)

A portrait of Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland

The title was created for the third time in 1766 for Hugh Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland (formerly Sir Hugh Smithson, 4th Baronet), who had assumed by Act of Parliament in 1750 for himself and his descendants the surname Percy, due to his having married in 1740 the daughter of Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset (1684–1750), whose mother Lady Elizabeth Percy (1667–1722) was the last of the senior blood line of the ancient House of Percy, being the only surviving child of Josceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland (1644–1670). In 1749 King George II created Algernon (who had inherited the Dukedom of Somerset in 1748) Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, of Warkworth Castle in the County of Northumberland, with special remainder to his son-in-law Sir Hugh Smithson, 4th Baronet. ^{[10] [11]}

The above steps formed a deliberate move to allow ancient names and titles of the Percys to be revived in the male-heir exhausted senior branch of the Dukedom of Somerset, which at that time was about to see its largest removal – to another noble but very cadet branch (a fourth cousin) on Algernon's death. Algernon was also created Earl of Egremont at the same time, with a different remainder. ^[12]

In 1784 the 1st Duke was also granted the substantive title Lord Lovaine, Baron of Alnwick in the County of Northumberland, in the Peerage of Great Britain, with remainder to his second son Lord Algernon Percy, ^[13] who succeeded and who was created Earl of Beverley in 1790, and thus it too became a courtesy title. ^[14]

The 1st Duke was succeeded in the dukedom and associated titles by his eldest son, Hugh, the 2nd Duke, a lieutenant-general in the British Army. The 2nd Duke was in his turn succeeded by his eldest son, Hugh, the 3rd Duke, who in 1812, five years before he succeeded in the dukedom, had been summoned to the House of Lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Percy. ^[15] The 3rd Duke later held office as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland from 1829 to 1830. He was childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, Algernon, 1st Baron Prudhoe, the 4th Duke, who in 1814 had been created Baron Prudhoe, of Prudhoe Castle in the County of Northumberland, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. ^[16] The 4th Duke was an admiral in the Royal Navy and notably served as First Lord of the Admiralty in 1852. He was also childless and on his death in 1865 the barony of Prudhoe became extinct while the barony of Percy (which could be passed on through the female line) was inherited by his great-nephew, John Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl. The Admiral was succeeded in the dukedom and remaining titles by his first cousin, George, the 2nd Earl of Beverley, eldest son of the second son of the 1st Duke. The barony of Lovaine and earldom of Beverley have since been merged in the dukedom as courtesy titles.

The 5th Duke was succeeded by his eldest son, Algernon, the 6th Duke, who notably served as Lord Privy Seal between 1879 and 1880 under Lord Beaconsfield. The 6th Duke's eldest son, Henry, the 7th Duke, was summoned to the House of lords through a writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Lord Lovaine in 1887. ^[17] The 7th Duke's eldest son, Henry Percy, Earl Percy, predeceased him. He was succeeded by his fourth but eldest surviving son, Alan, the 8th Duke, whose eldest son, Henry, the 9th Duke, was killed during the retreat to Dunkirk during the Second World War. Henry was succeeded by his younger brother, Hugh, the 10th Duke. In 1957, on the death of his fourth cousin once removed, James Stewart-Murray, 9th Duke of Atholl, Hugh succeeded as 9th Baron Percy, the title thus re-merging with the Dukedom. As of 2012 the titles are held by his second son, Ralph, the 12th Duke, who succeeded on the death of his elder brother in 1995. Northumberland Estates manages 100,000 acres (400 km²): directly managing 4,000 acres (16 km²) of forestry and 20,000 acres (81 km²) of farmland, with approximately 100 tenant farmers managing the remaining bulk of the land. ^{[18] [19] [20]}

Other members of the Percy family

Further information: Percy family

Several other members of the Percy family have also gained distinction. Charlotte Percy, Duchess of Northumberland, wife of the third Duke, was governess of the future Queen Victoria. Lord Josceline Percy, second son of the fifth Duke, was a politician. Lord Henry Percy, third son of the fifth Duke, was a soldier. Lord Algernon Percy, second son of the sixth Duke, was a politician. Lord Eustace Percy, seventh son of the seventh Duke, was a politician who was raised to the peerage as Baron Percy of Newcastle in 1953. Jane Percy, Duchess of Northumberland, wife of the twelfth Duke, is Lord-Lieutenant of Northumberland since 2009. See also Earl of Beverley for younger sons of the first Earl of Beverley.

Family residences

The seat of the Dukes of Northumberland is Alnwick Castle, which is located in Alnwick, Northumberland. ^[21] The family's London residence is Syon House in Brentford, which replaced, as their London residence, the demolished Northumberland House in the Strand. ^[22] Warkworth and Prudhoe castles were the residences of the Earls of Northumberland in the Middle Ages, and ownership was retained by the later Dukes. Both are now in the custody of English Heritage. Albury Park is a former residence which has been converted into apartments, while the surrounding estate is still directly owned by the Duke. ^[23] The traditional burial place of the Dukes is the Northumberland Vault in Westminster Abbey in London, the Percys thus being the last family to maintain such a privilege. Their family vault is however nearly full, and a new private graveyard has been created in Hulne Park near Alnwick.

Recurring names

Recurring names in the Percy genealogy include:

• Henry (first borne by the 7th feudal baron of Topcliffe and his 10 immediate successors, including the 1st Earl and Harry Hotspur)
• Hugh (first borne by the 1st Duke)
• Joscelin/Josceline (first borne by Joscelin of Louvain)
• Algernon (first borne by the 1st Baron as a nickname: Aux Gernons or "with moustaches").

Prominent members

Prominent members of the family include:

• William de Percy (d.1096)  ^{[ fr ]} (d. 1096), 1st feudal baron of Topcliffe, Yorkshire, ^[4] nicknamed "Aux Gernons" ("with moustaches"), a Norman who emigrated to England at the time of the Conquest
• Alan de Percy, 2nd feudal baron of Topcliffe (d. circa 1130–5) ^[4]
• William II de Percy, 3rd feudal baron of Topcliffe (d. 1174–5), who left two daughters Maud and Agnes as co-heiresses. ^[24]
• Agnes de Percy (1134-1205), married Joscelin of Louvain (d.1180). ^[24] He was a son of Godfrey I, Count of Louvain of the House of Louvain, ancestor of the Dukes of Brabant , House of Hesse, and so the Mountbattens) either by his second wife, Clementia of Burgundy, or by a mistress (see Dukes of Brabant family tree). He was also brother-in-law to King Henry I, whose second wife was Joscelin's step-sister Adeliza of Louvain.
• Richard de Percy (d. 1244), ^[24] 5th feudal baron of Topcliffe, signatory to Magna Carta. Died childless. Succeeded his elder brother Henry de Percy (d.1198), the 4th Baron Topcliffe, whose son William III de Percy (1197-1245) became Richard's heir. ^[24]
• William de Percy, (1197–1245), 6th feudal baron of Topcliffe
• Henry de Percy, 7th feudal baron of Topcliffe (1228–1272)
• Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Alnwick (1273–1314), 7th feudal baron of Topcliffe and 1st baron by writ.
• Henry de Percy, 2nd Baron Percy of Alnwick (1299–1352)
  • Henry de Percy, 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick (see below)
  • Thomas Percy (d. 1369), Bishop of Norwich
• Henry de Percy, 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick (1320–1368)
• Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland (1341–1408) (forfeit 1405), helped Henry IV seize the throne, later rebelled against him
• Henry Percy (1364/1366–1403), also called Harry Hotspur, helped Henry IV seize the throne but later rebelled against him, killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury
  • Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland (see below)
  • Lady Elizabeth Percy (c. 1390 – 1437)
• Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland (1394–1455), supporter of King Henry VI, killed at the beginning of the Wars of the Roses
  • Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland (see below)
  • Thomas Percy, 1st Baron Egremont (1422–1460)
  • Katherine Percy, Countess of Kent (1423 – c. 1475)
  • Ralph Percy (d.1464), knight, Lancastrian supporter in the Wars of the Roses
  • William Percy (1428–1462), Bishop of Carlisle
• Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland (1421–1461) (forfeit 1461), Lancastrian leader in the Wars of the Roses, killed at the Battle of Towton
  • Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland (see below)
  • Margaret Percy (b. c. 1447)
• Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland (1449–1489) (restored 1470), aligned with Yorkists, present but inactive at the Battle of Bosworth Field
  • Henry Algernon Percy, 5th Earl of Northumberland (see below)
  • Eleanor Percy, Duchess of Buckingham (1474–1530), daughter of the 4th Earl
  • Alan Percy (c. 1480 – 1560), son of the 4th Earl, English churchman and academic
  • Anne FitzAlan, Countess of Arundel (1485–1552), daughter of the 4th Earl
  • Thomas Percy (1560–1605), great-grandson of the 4th Earl, participated in the Gunpowder Plot
• Henry Algernon Percy, 5th Earl of Northumberland (1478–1527)
  • Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland (1502–1537), betrothed to Anne Boleyn
  • Thomas Percy (c. 1504 – 1537), participated the Pilgrimage of Grace revolt
    • Blessed Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland (1528–1572) (forfeit 1571; restored 1572), led the Rising of the North
    • Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland (see below)
• Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland (1532–1585)
  • Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland (see below)
  • George Percy (1580–1632), explorer, author, early governor of Virginia
• Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland (1564–1632), known as "The Wizard Earl" for his intellectual pursuits, imprisoned after the Gunpowder Plot
  • Dorothy Sidney, Countess of Leicester (c. 1598 – 1659)
  • Lucy Hay, Countess of Carlisle (1599–1660)
  • Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland (see below)
  • Henry Percy, Baron Percy of Alnwick (d.1659), royalist in the English Civil War
• Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland (1602–1668), Lord High Admiral of England, later a Parliamentarian in the English Civil War
• Joceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland (1644–1670), no male heirs, becomes the last male of direct Percy lineage to inherit the Earldom.
• Elizabeth Seymour, Duchess of Somerset (1667–1722), only daughter and heiress of the 11th Earl
• Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset, 1st Earl of Northumberland (1684–1750), son of Elizabeth Seymour
• Elizabeth Percy (née Seymour), Duchess of Northumberland, 2nd Baroness Percy (1716–1776), daughter and heiress of the 7th Duke of Somerset, married Sir Hugh Smithson (who adopted the name Percy)
• Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland (1714–1786), né Smithson
  • Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland (1742–1817), British army officer during the American Revolutionary War
    • Hugh Percy, 3rd Duke of Northumberland (1785–1847)
    • Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland (1792–1865)
  • Algernon Percy, 1st Earl of Beverley (1750–1830), second son of the 1st Duke
    • George Percy, 2nd Earl of Beverley, 5th Duke of Northumberland (see below)
    • Algernon Percy (1779–1833), diplomat
    • Hugh Percy (1784–1856), bishop
    • Josceline Percy (1784–1856), Royal Navy officer
    • William Henry Percy (1788–1855), Royal Navy officer
• George Percy, 2nd Earl of Beverley, 5th Duke of Northumberland (1778–1867), politician
  • Algernon George Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland (see below)
  • Lord Josceline Percy (1811–1881), politician
  • Lord Henry Percy (1817–1877), lieutenant-general in the British Army
• Algernon George Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland (1810–1899), politician
  • Henry George Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland (see below)
  • Lord Algernon Percy (1851–1933), politician
• Henry George Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland (1846–1918), politician
  • Henry Percy, Earl Percy (1871–1909), politician
  • Alan Ian Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland (see below)
  • Eustace Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle (1887–1958), politician
• Alan Ian Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland (1880–1930)
  • Henry George Alan Percy, 9th Duke of Northumberland (1912–1940), killed in World War II
  • Hugh Algernon Percy, 10th Duke of Northumberland (see below)
  • Elizabeth Douglas-Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton and Brandon (1916–2008)
• Hugh Algernon Percy, 10th Duke of Northumberland (1914–1988)
  • Henry Alan Walter Richard Percy, 11th Duke of Northumberland (1953–1995)
  • Ralph George Algernon Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland (b. 1956)
    • Lady Katie Percy (b. 1982)
    • George Dominic Percy, Earl Percy (b. 1984)
    • Lady Melissa Jane Percy (b. 1987)
    • Lord Max Percy (b. 1990), husband of Princess Nora zu Oettingen-Spielberg

Family tree

part of this is taken from the article on the Duke of Northumberland

William de Perci aux Gernons ("with whiskers", later became a common name in the family, "Algernon") arrived in England from Normandy 1067 from Percy-en-Auge in Normandy 1st feudal baron of Topcliffe, North Yorkshire (d. 1096/9)

Alan de Perci 2nd feudal baron of Topcliffe (d. circa 1130/5)

William II de Perci (d. 1174/5) 3rd feudal baron of Topcliffe

Godfrey I, Count of Louvain

Ida of Chiny (1078–1117)

Agnes de Perci (1134-1205)

Joscelin of Louvain (d.1180) 4th feudal baron of Topcliffe

Adeliza of Louvain

2. King Henry I of England 1.

Matilda of Scotland

Dukes of Brabant

Henry de Perci

Richard de Perci (d. 1244) 5th feudal baron of Topcliffe

Empress Matilda

William Adelin

House of Hesse Mountbattens

William III de Perci (1197-1245) 6th feudal baron of Topcliffe

King Henry II "FitzEmpress" of England

Henry de Perci (1228–1272) 7th feudal baron of Topcliffe

Henri de Perci 8th feudal baron of Topcliffe 1st Baron Percy of Alnwick by writ. (1273–1314)

Henry de Percy 9th feudal baron of Topcliffe 2nd Baron Percy of Alnwick (1299–1352)

Henry de Percy 10th feudal baron of Topcliffe 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick (1320–1368)

Mary of Lancaster

Thomas Percy bishop of Norwich (d. 1369)

Margaret Neville

Henry Percy 11th feudal baron of Topcliffe 4th Baron Percy of Alnwick 1st Earl of Northumberland, 1377 forfeit 1405 (1341–1408)

Maud Lucy heiress of Egremont

Thomas Percy 1st Earl of Worcester (1343 – 1403)

Henry Percy (Hotspur) (1364 – 1403)

Thomas Percy

Ralph Percy

Alan Percy

Mary Percy

Elizabeth (c. 1390 – 1437)

Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland, 1416 (1394–1455)

Henry 3rd Earl of Northumberland (1421 - 1461 )

Thomas Percy 1st Baron Egremont (1422 – 1460)

Katherine (1423 Aft. 1475 )

George Percy (1424 - 1474 )

Ralph Percy ( 1425 - 1464)

Richard Percy

William Percy Bishop of Carlisle (1428 – 1462)

Joan Percy (1430 - 1482) married Lord Edmund d'Aganet, 8th Baron of Blyth

Anne Percy (1436 - 1522) married Thomas Hungerford of Rowden

Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland (1449–1489) (restored 1470)

Sir Ralph Percy

Peter Percy

Sir Henry Percy

George Percy

John Percy

Henry Algernon Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland (1478–1527)

Alan Percy (c. 1480 – 1560)

Joscelin Percy

Richard Pearce

Henry Percy 6th Earl of Northumberland (1502–1537) betrothed to Anne Boleyn

Thomas Percy (c. 1504 – 1537) participated the Pilgrimage of Grace revolt

Edward Percy

Thomas Percy 7th Earl of Northumberland (forfeit 1571; restored 1572) led the Rising of the North (1528–1572)

Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland (1532–1585)

Thomas Percy convicted in the Gunpowder Plot (c. 1560 – 1605)

Henry Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland "the Wizard Earl" (1564–1632)

Thomas Percy

William Percy

Sir Charles Percy

Richard Percy

Sir Joscelin Percy

Sir Alan Percy

Sir George Percy explorer, author, gov. of Virginia (1580–1632)

Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland (1602–1668) Lord High Admiral of England, later a Parliamentarian in the English Civil War

Henry Percy Baron Percy of Alnwick (d.1659) royalist in the English Civil War

Joceline Percy 11th Earl of Northumberland (1644–1670) no male heirs, becomes the last male of direct Percy lineage to inherit the Earldom

Henry Percy Lord Percy (1668–1669) only son and heir apparent

Elizabeth Percy suo jure Baroness Percy (1667 – 1722)

Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset

Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset Baron Percy (1684 – 1750) created Earl of Northumberland, with remainder to his son-in-law

George Seymour Viscount Beauchamp (1725 – 1744)

Elizabeth Percy suo jure 2nd Baroness Percy (1730 - 1776)

Sir Hugh Percy né Smithson 4th Baronet 2nd Earl of Northumberland by special remainder, 1750, and 1st Duke of Northumberland by creation 1766 (1714 – 1786)

This summary genealogical tree shows how the current house of Percy is related:

v t e Family tree of the Earls and Dukes of Northumberland and Earls of Beverley

King Henry III 1207–1272 Baron Percy of Alnwick (2nd creation), 1299 Henry de Percy 1273–1314 8th Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 1st Baron Percy Edmund Crouchback 1245–1296 Earl of Leicester, Earl of Lancaster, Earl of Derby King Edward I 1239–1307 Henry de Percy 1300–1351 9th Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 2nd Baron Percy Henry c. 1281–1345 Earl of Leicester, Earl of Lancaster, Earl of Derby King Edward II 1284–1327 Henry de Percy 1320–1368 3rd Baron Percy Mary of Lancaster c. 1320–1321–1362 Henry of Grosmont c. 1310–1361 Duke of Lancaster, Earl of Lancaster, 4th Earl of Leicester King Edward III 1312–1377 Earl of Northumberland (1st creation), 1377 Earl of Worcester Henry Percy 1341–1408 1st Earl of Northumberland, 4th Baron Percy Thomas Percy 1343–1403 Earl of Worcester Blanche of Lancaster 1342–1368 John of Gaunt 1340–1399 Duke of Lancaster, Earl of Leicester, Earl of Lancaster, Earl of Derby, Earl of Richmond (attainted 1405) Henry Percy "Hotspur" c. 1365–1403 Joan Beaufort c. 1379–1440 John Beaufort c. 1370–1410 Earl of Somerset Earl of Northumberland (2nd creation), 1416 Henry Percy 1394–1455 2nd Earl of Northumberland Eleanor Neville c. 1398–1472 Richard Neville 1400–1460 Earl of Salisbury John Beaufort 1404–1444 1st Duke of Somerset Edmund Beaufort 1406–1455 2nd Duke of Somerset Earl of Northumberland (3rd creation), 1464 Henry Percy 1421–1461 3rd Earl of Northumberland John Neville c. 1431–1471 Earl of Northumberland Eleanor Beaufort 1431–1501 Margaret Beaufort 1443–1509 (forfeit 1461) (released 1470) (restored 1470) Henry Percy 1449–1489 4th Earl of Northumberland King Henry VII 1457–1509 Henry Algernon Percy 1478–1527 5th Earl of Northumberland Katherine Spencer 1477–1542 Mary Tudor (Queen of France) 1496–1533 m.(2) Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk Margaret Tudor 1489–1541 Duke of Northumberland (1st creation), 1551 Henry Percy 1502–1537 6th Earl of Northumberland Thomas Percy c. 1504–1537 John Dudley 1504–1553 1st Duke of Northumberland Frances Brandon 1517–1559 m. Henry Grey Duke of Suffolk James V of Scotland 1512–1542 (attainted 1537) (extinct 1553) Earl of Northumberland (2nd creation) restored and Baron Percy of Alnwick (3rd creation), 1557 Thomas Percy 1528–1572 7th Earl of Northumberland, 1st Baron Percy Henry Percy 1532–1585 8th Earl of Northumberland, 2nd Baron Percy Guildford Dudley c. 1535–1554 Jane Grey c. 1537–1554 Lady Katherine Grey 1540–1568 m. Edward Seymour Earl of Hertford Mary, Queen of Scots 1542–1587 Henry Percy 1564–1632 9th Earl of Northumberland, 3rd Baron Percy Edward Seymour 1561–1612 Viscount Beauchamp King James VI and I 1566–1625 Algernon Percy 1602–1668 10th Earl of Northumberland, 4th Baron Percy Francis Seymour c. 1590–1664 Baron Seymour of Trowbridge King Charles I 1600–1649 Josceline Percy 1644–1670 11th Earl of Northumberland, 5th Baron Percy Charles Seymour c. 1621–1665 Baron Seymour of Trowbridge King Charles II 1630–1685 Earldom of Northumberland and Barony Percy extinct, 1670 Earl of Northumberland (4th creation), Viscount Falmouth (1st creation), and Baron of Pontefract, 1674 Duke of Northumberland (2nd creation), 1683 Elizabeth Seymour 1667–1722 Charles Seymour 1662–1748 Duke of Somerset George FitzRoy 1665–1716 Duke of Northumberland, Earl of Northumberland, Viscount Falmouth, Baron of Pontefract Earldom of Northumberland and Dukedom of Northumberland extinct, 1716 Baron Percy (4th creation) created erroneously, 1722 Earl of Northumberland (5th creation) and Baron Warkworth, 1749 Algernon Seymour 1684–1750 Duke of Somerset, 1st Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 1st Baron Percy Duke of Northumberland (3rd creation), 1766 Lord Lovaine, Baron of Alnwick in the County of Northumberland Hugh Percy formerly Hugh Smithson 1714–1786 1st Duke of Northumberland, 2nd Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 1st Baron Lovaine, 4th Baronet Smithson Elizabeth Seymour 1716–1776 2nd Baroness Percy suo jure Earl of Beverley , 1790 Hugh Percy 1742–1817 2nd Duke of Northumberland, 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 3rd Baron Percy Algernon Percy 1750–1830 1st Earl of Beverley, 2nd Baron Lovaine Baron Prudhoe, of Prudhoe Castle in the County of Northumberland, 1814 Hugh Percy 1785–1847 3rd Duke of Northumberland, 4th Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 4th Baron Percy Emily Frances Percy 1789–1844 Algernon Percy 1792–1865 4th Duke of Northumberland, 5th Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 1st Baron Prudhoe, 5th Baron Percy George Percy 1778–1867 5th Duke of Northumberland, 6th Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 2nd Earl of Beverley, 3rd Baron Lovaine Barony Prudhoe extinct, 1865 George Augustus Frederick John Murray 1814–1864 6th Duke of Atholl, 11th Baron Strange Algernon George Percy 1810–1899 6th Duke of Northumberland, 7th Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 3rd Earl of Beverley, 4th Baron Lovaine John James Hugh Henry Stewart-Murray 1840–1917 7th Duke of Atholl, 12th Baron Strange, 6th Baron Percy Henry George Percy 1846–1918 7th Duke of Northumberland, 8th Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 4th Earl of Beverley, 5th Baron Lovaine John George Stewart-Murray 1871–1942 8th Duke of Atholl, 13th Baron Strange, 7th Baron Percy James Thomas Stewart-Murray 1879–1957 9th Duke of Atholl, 14th Baron Strange, 8th Baron Percy Alan Ian Percy 1880–1930 8th Duke of Northumberland, 9th Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 5th Earl of Beverley, 6th Baron Lovaine Henry George Alan Percy 1912–1940 9th Duke of Northumberland, 10th Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 6th Earl of Beverley, 7th Baron Lovaine Hugh Algernon Percy 1914–1988 10th Duke of Northumberland, 11th Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 7th Earl of Beverley, 8th Baron Lovaine, 9th Baron Percy Henry Alan Walter Richard Percy 1953–1995 11th Duke of Northumberland, 12th Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 8th Earl of Beverley, 9th Baron Lovaine, 10th Baron Percy Ralph George Algernon Percy b. 1956 12th Duke of Northumberland, 13th Earl of Northumberland and Baron Warkworth, 9th Earl of Beverley, 10th Baron Lovaine, 11th Baron Percy George Dominic Percy b. 1984 styled Earl Percy Heir apparent to the Dukedom of Northumberland

This shows the descent of the present Percy family from the current creation of the 1st Duke of Northumberland:

DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, 1766

Hugh Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland, 1st Duke of Northumberland (1714–1786) formerly Sir Hugh Smithson, Bt.

Elizabeth Seymour, 2nd Baroness Percy (1716–1776)

Earl of Beverley

Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland (1742–1817)

Algernon Percy, 1st Earl of Beverley (1750–1830)

Hugh Percy, 3rd Duke of Northumberland (1785–1847)

Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland (1792–1865)

George Percy, 5th Duke of Northumberland (1778–1867)

Algernon George Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland (1810–1899)

Henry George Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland (1846–1918)

Alan Ian Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland (1880–1930)

Henry George Alan Percy, 9th Duke of Northumberland (1912–1940)

Hugh Algernon Percy, 10th Duke of Northumberland (1914–1988)

Henry Alan Walter Richard Percy, 11th Duke of Northumberland (1953–1995)

Ralph George Algernon Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland (b. 1956)

Coats of arms

Paternal arms of Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy (1273–1314): Azure, five fusils in fess or, ^[25] ("Percy ancient") which he abandoned in favour of right: Or, a lion rampant azure ("Percy modern"/Brabant) ^[26] Both arms were quartered by the Percy Earls of Northumberland and remain quartered by the present Duke of Northumberland

• 
  Arms of original de Perci family
• 
  Arms of the Percy family descended from Joscelin de Louvain
• 
  Sir Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, KG
• 
  Coat of arms of Percy and Lucy families quartered, arms of the Earls and Dukes of Northumberland.
• 
  Henry Percy, "Hotspur"
• 
  Sir Henry "Hotspur" Percy, KG.png
• 
  Sir Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland, KG
• 
  Sir Henry Algernon Percy, 5th Earl of Northumberland, KG
• 
  Sir Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland, KG
• 
  Sir Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland, KG
• 
  Sir Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, KG
• 
  Sir Algernon Percy, 10 Earl of Northumberland, KG
• 
  Arms of Smithson of Stanwick, Yorkshire (ancient): Argent, a chevron engrailed sable between three oak leaves erect slipped vert ^[27]
• 
  Augmented arms of Smithson Baronets of Stanwick to Sir Hugh Smithson, 1st Baronet by King Charles II of England for loyalty: Or, on a chief embattled azure three suns proper ^[28]
• 
  Monument of Sir Hugh Smithson, 1st Baronet (d.1670), St John the Baptist's Church, Stanwick, Yorks. ^[29]
• 
  Arms of Hugh (Smithson) Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland.
• 
  Duke of Northumberland
• 
  Current duke of Northumberland

Buildings associated with the Percy family

• 
  Alnwick Castle
• 
  Warkworth Castle
• 
  Sheriff Hutton Castle
• 
  Middleham Castle
• 
  Wressle Castle

• Topcliffe Castle, Yorkshire, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as held by William I de Percy (d.1096), whom it served as the caput of the feudal barony of Topcliffe. The Percy family's most ancient English seat.
• Petworth, Sussex, acquired by Joscelin of Louvain (d.1180), husband of Agnes de Percy, one of the two daughters and co-heiresses of William II de Percy (d.1174–5), feudal baron of Topcliffe in Yorkshire (grandson of William I de Percy (d.1096)). Jocelin's younger son Richard "de Percy" (d.1244) adopted the surname "de Percy" and inherited his father's estate of Petworth and a moiety of his maternal barony of Topcliffe. Richard died without progeny when his estates descended to his nephew William III "de Percy" (1197-1245), grandson of Jocelin de Louvain, who had inherited the other moiety of Topcliffe from his great-aunt Maud de Percy. ^[30]

Canting arms of Lucy of Cockermouth Castle: Gules, three lucies hauriant argent

• Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, purchased in 1309 by Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy (1273–1314) from Anthony Bek, Prince Bishop of Durham. ^[31]
• Warkworth Castle, Northumberland
• Cockermouth Castle, Cumbria, inherited by Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland (1341-1408) and his heirs male, from his 2nd wife Maud de Lucy, sister and heiress of Anthony de Lucy, 3rd Baron Lucy (d.1368), on condition that they should bear the arms of Lucy (Gules, three lucies hauriant argent) quarterly with their own. ^[32]
• Egremont Castle, Cumbria, purchased in 1529 by Henry Percy, 15th Earl of Northumberland from Robert Radclyffe, 1st Earl of Sussex (1483–1542). ^[33]
• Leconfield Castle, Yorkshire.
• Syon House, Isleworth, Middlesex, the former Syon Monastery, acquired in 1594 by Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland (1564-1632).

Following the death of his grandson Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset in 1750, the former Percy estates were split between the Smithson ("Percy", Duke of Northumberland) and Wyndham (Earl of Egremont) families

See also

• Percy (surname)
• Percy (given name)
• Percy (disambiguation)

References

1. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.849
2. Burke's General Armory, 1884 & Landed Gentry
3. Smith-Ellis, W., Antiquities of Heraldry, Vol. 1, pp.204-5, who suggests that a Roll of Arms c.1308-14 temp. Edward II lists the arms of Redvers as abatue or extinct and states in the same roll that they were borne by Sir Henry de Percy, whose father was heir of his 2nd brother Ingelram, who married Adeline, daughter and heiress of William de Fors by Isabel, daughter and heiress of Baldwin de Rivers, Earl of Devon. The Courtenays were also heirs of Isabel de Fors, and also quarter the Redvers lion
4. Sanders, I.J., English Baronies, Oxford, 1960, p.148
5. Rose, Alexander (2003). Kings in the North. The House of Percy in British History. London: Phoenix. pp. 26–7. ISBN   1-84212-485-4 . Retrieved 21 May 2011.
6. Rose, Alexander (2003). Kings in the North. The House of Percy in British History. London: Phoenix. pp. 86–9. ISBN   1-84212-485-4 . Retrieved 21 May 2011.
7. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.849, Duke of Northumberland
8. Howard de Walden, Lord, Some Feudal Lords and their Seals 1301, published 1904, p.43
9. Northumberland Yesterday and To-day by Jean F. Terry, 1913, from Project Gutenberg
10. "No. 8887". The London Gazette . 23 September 1749. p. 2.
11. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.1037
12. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.851
13. "No. 12514". The London Gazette . 27 January 1784. p. 2.
14. "No. 13249". The London Gazette . 26 October 1790. p. 646.
15. "No. 16583". The London Gazette . 14 March 1812. p. 497.
16. "No. 17164". The London Gazette . 17 August 1816. p. 1596.
17. "No. 25723". The London Gazette . 22 July 1887. p. 4001.
18. "Farming". The Northumberland Estates. The Northumberland Estates. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
19. "Sawmill and Forestry". The Northumberland Estates. The Northumberland Estates. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
20. "Duke's Plans Spark Suspicion". Northumberland Gazette. 7 February 2001. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
21. "Alnwick Castle". Alnwickcastle.com.
22. syonpark.co.uk, Syon Park – w. "Welcome". Syonpark.co.uk.
23. "History – Albury Park". Albury Park. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
24. Sanders
25. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.849, Duke of Northumberland
26. Howard de Walden, Lord, Some Feudal Lords and their Seals 1301, published 1904, p.43
27. Collins' Baronetage of England; The old arms can be seen carved in wood impaling the arms of Fairfax (A lion rampant) on the staircase of Moulton Hall, Richmond, York, made following the 1653 marriage of George Smithson. See image in: Smithson, George R., Genealogical notes memoirs of the Smithson family, London, 1906, plate between pp.24&25
28. Collins, Arthur, The English Baronetage, vol.3, part 1; Victoria County History, Stanwick St John
29. Further reading: The Smithson Monuments at Stanwick, North Yorkshire by Bulter, L., published in Journal of the Church Monument Society Volume XV, 2000. 6pp, 4 b/w pls
30. Sanders, I.J., English Baronies, Oxford, 1960, p.148, Topcliffe, Yorkshire
31. Sanders, I.J., English Baronies, Oxford, 1960, p.103, Alnwick, Northumberland
32. Daniel Lysons and Samuel Lysons, 'Cockermouth', in Magna Britannia: Volume 4, Cumberland (London, 1816), pp. 40-45 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/magna-britannia/vol4/pp40-45
33. "Egremont Castle, Cumbria and the Lake District".

External links

• European Heraldry page