List of dukedoms in the peerages of Britain and Ireland

This article lists all dukedoms, extant, extinct, dormant, abeyant, or forfeit, in the peerages of England, Scotland, Great Britain, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

George Henry Fitzroy in his robes as Duke of Grafton
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Introduction of dukedoms into England

Edward III of England created the first three dukedoms of England (Cornwall, Lancaster, and Clarence). His eldest son Edward, the Black Prince, was created Duke of Cornwall, the first English Duke, in 1337. Two weeks after the Prince's death the dukedom was recreated for his 9-year-old son Richard of Bordeaux, who would eventually succeed his grandfather as Richard II. The Dukes of Cornwall are not numbered as part of their style.

The second dukedom was originally given to Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, but upon his death was re-created for the 3rd son of Edward III, John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster. On that same day Edward III also created a dukedom for his second son, Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence. When Richard II reached majority, he created dukedoms for his last two uncles on the same day: Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, and Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester.

Originally, dukedoms were created for those who had royal blood, either by descent or marriage (see below, list of surnames). By the end of the Middle Ages, traditionally marked by the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22 August 1485, a total of 31 dukedoms (with 16 distinct titles) had been created; yet only those of Cornwall, Lancaster and Suffolk remained. The Duchy of Cornwall was permanently associated with the heir apparent, and the Duchy of Lancaster became Crown property.

The first Duke of Norfolk had died in the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. Three decades later the Dukedom of Norfolk was restored to his son by Henry VIII. Thus when Elizabeth I came to power the only living duke was Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. Elizabeth did not create any dukes, and she beheaded Thomas Howard at the age of 36 for plotting to wed Mary, Queen of Scots and overthrow her. By 1572, this class of peerage was extinct, and there were no dukes in the last 30 years of her reign. The extant dukedoms in the Peerage of England were all created (or restored, in the cases of Norfolk and Somerset) in the Stuart period, beginning with James I's re-creation of the dukedom of Buckingham in 1623 for George Villiers.

With the possible exception of the Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster (which come with great territories attached), all ducal titles in England have been created and held by royal patent or charter, and not by tenure. As a result, the rules of succession to a ducal title are usually explicitly laid out in the patent, and are not necessarily consistent, nor do they coincide with common inheritance laws on property. For instance, an heir does not usually inherit the ducal title by virtue of being the heir of the last holder, but by virtue of descent from the first person to whom the title was given, so a full-blood daughter of a duke may be superseded by a half-blood male relative who can prove direct descent from the first holder.

Dukedoms in the Peerage of England, 1337–1707

  •   This indicates a Royal Dukedom.
  •   This indicates an extant Non Royal Dukedom.
MonarchDukedomDate of creationGranteeSurnameCurrent statusNotes
Edward IIICornwall9 February 1337Edward of WoodstockPlantagenet (originally)ExtantHeld by the eldest living son of the monarch who is also heir-apparent to the throne; title currently held by William, Prince of Wales. See also Duchy of Cornwall.
Lancaster6 March 1351Henry of GrosmontPlantagenetExtinct 13 March 1361
Clarence13 November 1362Lionel of AntwerpPlantagenetExtinct 17 October 1368
Lancaster13 November 1362John of GauntPlantagenetMerged in crown 30 September 1399The Sovereign is occasionally styled as Duke of Lancaster, regardless of gender. See also Duchy of Lancaster.
Cornwall20 November 1376Richard of BordeauxPlantagenetMerged in crown 22 June 1377Distinct from the 1337 creation, as the holder was not the eldest son of the monarch
Richard IIYork6 August 1385Edmund of LangleyPlantagenetMerged in crown 4 March 1461Forfeit 1415–1425; November 1459 – 7 October 1460[citation needed]
Gloucester6 August 1385Thomas of WoodstockPlantagenetForfeit 8 September 1397
Ireland13 October 1386RobertVereForfeit 3 February 1388Creation for life only.
Hereford29 September 1397Henry of BolingbrokePlantagenetMerged in crown 30 September 1399
Aumale29 September 1397Edward of NorwichPlantagenetDeprived of title 3 November 1399Also Earl of Rutland from 1390 and Duke of York from 1402
Exeter29 September 1397JohnHollandDeprived of title 1399Descendant of Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent, son of Edward I.
Surrey29 September 1397ThomasHollandForfeit 1399Descendant of Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent, son of Edward I.
Norfolk29 September 1397ThomasMowbrayExtinct 17 January 1476Title not in use 1399 to 1425. Descendant in female line of Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk, son of Edward I.
Norfolk29 September 1397MargaretPlantagenetExtinct 24 March 1400For life only
Henry IVLancaster10 November 1399Henry of MonmouthPlantagenetMerged in crown 20 March 1413Also Duke of Cornwall
Clarence2 July 1412Thomas of LancasterPlantagenetExtinct 22 March 1421
Henry VBedford16 May 1414John of LancasterPlantagenetExtinct 14 September 1435
Gloucester16 May 1414Humphrey of LancasterPlantagenetExtinct 28 February 1447
Exeter18 November 1416ThomasBeaufort (Plantagenet)Extinct 30 December 1426Son of John of Gaunt, grandson of Edward III.
Henry VIExeter6 January 1443JohnHollandForfeit 4 November 1461Descendant of Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent, son of Edward I.
Somerset28 August 1443JohnBeaufort (Plantagenet)Extinct 27 May 1444Descended from son of John of Gaunt, grandson of Edward III.
Buckingham14 September 1444HumphreyStaffordForfeit 17 May 1521Also forfeit 2 November 1483 – November 1485 Descendant of Anne of Gloucester, the daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, youngest son of Edward III.
Warwick5 April 1445HenryBeauchampExtinct 11 June 1446
Somerset31 March 1448EdmundBeaufort (Plantagenet)Forfeit 3 April 1464Also forfeit 1461–1463 Descended from son of John of Gaunt, grandson of Edward III.
Suffolk2 July 1448Williamde la PoleSurrendered 26 February 1493Forfeit 1450–1463. Married Elizabeth of York, sister of Edward IV and Richard III.
Edward IVClarenceJune 1461GeorgePlantagenetForfeit 18 February 1478
Gloucester1461RichardPlantagenetMerged in crown 22 June 1483
Bedford5 January 1470GeorgeNevilleDeprived of title 1478Intended husband of Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV.
York28 May 1474Richard of ShrewsburyPlantagenetExtinct 1483Also Duke of Norfolk from 1477
Norfolk12 June 1477Richard of ShrewsburyPlantagenetExtinct 1483Also Duke of York
Bedford1478GeorgePlantagenetExtinct 1479
Richard IIINorfolk28 June 1483JohnHoward, Fitzalan-HowardExtantTitle forfeit 22 August 1485 – 1 February 1514,
27 January 1547 – October 1553,
2 June 1572 – September 1660. Descendant in female line of Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk, son of Edward I.
Henry VIIBedford27 October 1485JasperTudorExtinct 21 December 1495
York31 October 1494HenryTudorMerged in crown 21 April 1509Also Duke of Cornwall from 1502
Somerset24 February 1499EdmundTudorExtinct 19 June 1500
Henry VIIISuffolk1 February 1514CharlesBrandonExtinct 14 July 1551Husband of Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII and former Queen of France.
Richmond and Somerset18 June 1525HenryFitzroyExtinct 22 July 1536Illegitimate son of Henry VIII.
Edward VISomerset16 February 1547EdwardSeymourExtantForfeit 22 January 1552 – 13 September 1660. Maternal uncle of Edward VI.
Northumberland11 October 1551JohnDudleyForfeit 22 August 1553
Suffolk11 October 1551HenryGreyForfeit 23 February 1554Married Lady Frances Brandon, daughter of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII.
James IYork6 January 1605CharlesStuartMerged in crown 27 March 1625Also Duke of Albany in Scotland and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay from 1612
Richmond17 May 1623LudovicStuartExtinct 16 February 1624
Buckingham18 May 1623GeorgeVilliersExtinct 16 April 1687
Charles IRichmond8 August 1641JamesStuartExtinct 12 December 1672
Cumberland24 January 1644Prince Rupert of the RhineNone (royal prince) (Wittelsbach)Extinct 29 November 1682Created for Prince Rupert of the Rhine
York27 January 1644JamesStuartMerged in crown 6 February 1685
Dudley23 May 1644AliceDudleyExtinct 22 January 1669For life only
Charles IIGloucester13 May 1659HenryStuartExtinct 13 September 1660
Albemarle7 July 1660GeorgeMonckExtinct 6 October 1688
Monmouth14 February 1663JamesScott (illegitimate Stuart)Forfeit 15 July 1685
Cambridge23 August 1664JamesStuartExtinct 20 June 1667
Newcastle upon Tyne16 March 1665WilliamCavendishExtinct 26 July 1691
Kendal1666CharlesStuartExtinct 22 May 1667
Cambridge7 October 1667EdgarStuartExtinct 8 June 1671
Cleveland3 August 1670BarbaraVilliers, Fitzroy (illegitimate Stuart)Extinct 18 May 1774Also Duke of Southampton from 1709
Portsmouth19 August 1673LouisePenancoët de KérouailleExtinct 14 November 1734For life only
Richmond9 August 1675CharlesLennox (illegitimate Stuart)ExtantAlso Duke of Gordon in the United Kingdom from 1876 and Duke of Lennox in Scotland
Southampton10 September 1675CharlesFitzroy (illegitimate Stuart)Extinct 18 May 1774Also Duke of Cleveland from 1709
Grafton11 September 1675HenryFitzroy (illegitimate Stuart)Extant
Ormonde9 November 1682JamesButlerForfeit 20 August 1715Also Duke of Ormonde in Ireland
Beaufort2 December 1682HenrySomerset (illegitimate Plantagenet)ExtantDescended from John of Gaunt, son of Edward III via house of Beaufort.
Northumberland6 April 1683GeorgeFitzroy (illegitimate Stuart)Extinct 3 July 1716
St Albans10 January 1684CharlesBeauclerk (illegitimate Stuart)Extant
James IIBerwick-upon-Tweed19 March 1687JamesFitzjames (illegitimate Stuart)UnclearIt was long thought that the title was forfeit sometime around 1695, but there is no evidence of an attainder. If there was not one, the title is extant and held by the Dukes of Peñaranda del Duero.
William III and Mary IICumberland9 April 1689Prince GeorgeOldenburgExtinct 28 October 1708
Bolton9 April 1689CharlesPauletExtinct 25 December 1794
Schomberg10 April 1689FrederickSchombergExtinct 5 July 1719Also Duke of Leinster in Ireland from 1691
Shrewsbury30 April 1694CharlesTalbotExtinct 1 February 1718
Leeds4 May 1694ThomasOsborneExtinct 20 March 1964
Bedford11 May 1694WilliamRussellExtant
Devonshire12 May 1694WilliamCavendishExtant
Newcastle upon Tyne14 May 1694JohnHollesExtinct 15 July 1711
AnneMarlborough14 December 1702JohnChurchill, Spencer, Spencer-ChurchillExtant
Buckingham and Normanby23 March 1703JohnSheffieldExtinct 30 October 1735
Rutland29 March 1703JohnMannersExtant
Montagu14 April 1705RalphMontaguExtinct 16 July 1749
Cambridge9 November 1706GeorgeHanoverMerged in crown 11 June 1727Also Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay from 1714

(continues below Scotland as Dukedoms of Great Britain)

Dukedoms in the Peerage of Scotland, 1398–1707

  •   This indicates a Royal Dukedom.
  •   This indicates an extant Dukedom.
MonarchTitleDate of CreationSurnameCurrent StatusNotes
Robert IIIRothesay[1]28 April 1398Stuart (originally)ExtantHeld by eldest son of the monarch who is also heir-apparent; thus also Duke of Cornwall since 1603
Albany[2]28 April 1398StuartForfeit 24 May 1425
James IIAlbany[3]1457 abtStuartExtinct 2 June 1536Forfeit 1479–1482, 1483–1514
James IIIRoss[4]29 January 1488StuartExtinct 17 January 1504
Montrose[5]18 May 1488LindsayExtinct December 1495Deprived of title 1488–1489, title for life from 1489
James VRoss[4]1514StuartExtinct 18 December 1515Alexander Stewart was styled Duke of Ross, but never formally created a peer
Albany[6]1541StuartExtinct 1541Arthur Stewart was styled Duke of Albany, but never formally created a peer
Mary IAlbany[6]20 July 1565StuartMerged in crown 24 July 1567
Orkney[7]12 May 1567HepburnForfeit 29 December 1567
James VILennox[8]5 August 1581StuartExtinct 12 December 1672Also Duke of Richmond in England from 1623 until 1624 and from 1641; sat in the English House of Lords as Earl of Richmond 1613-1623 and as Earl of March 1624-1641
Albany[6]23 December 1600StuartMerged in crown 27 March 1625Also Duke of York in England from 1605 and Duke of Rothesay from 1612
Kintyre and Lorne1602StuartExtinct 1602
Charles IHamilton[9]12 April 1643Hamilton, Douglas-HamiltonExtantAlso Duke of Brandon in Great Britain from 1711; sat in the English House of Lords as Earl of Cambridge in the Peerage of England 1643-1651 and in the British House of Lords as Duke of Brandon in the Peerage of Great Britain 1782-1963
Charles IIHamilton[10]20 September 1660Douglas (Hamilton)Extinct 18 April 1694For life only; husband of the suo jure Duchess of Hamilton
Albany[6]31 December 1660StuartMerged in crown 6 February 1685Also Duke of York in England
Buccleuch[11]20 April 1663ScottForfeit 15 July 1685Also Duke of Monmouth in England
Buccleuch[11]20 April 1663Scott, Montagu-Douglas-ScottExtantAlso Duke of Queensberry from 1810; sat in the House of Lords as Earl of Doncaster in the Peerage of England 1743-1963
Lauderdale[12]1 May 1672MaitlandExtinct 24 August 1682 
Lennox[13]9 September 1675LennoxExtantAlso Duke of Gordon in the United Kingdom from 1876 and Duke of Richmond in England
Rothes[14]29 May 1680LeslieExtinct 27 July 1681
Gordon[15]3 November 1684GordonExtinct 28 May 1836Sat in the House of Lords as Earl of Norwich in the Peerage of Great Britain 1784-1836
Queensberry[16]3 November 1684Douglas, Montagu-Douglas ScottExtantAlso Duke of Dover in Great Britain from 1708 until 1778 and Duke of Buccleuch from 1810
William IIArgyll[17]23 June 1701CampbellExtantAlso Duke of Greenwich in Great Britain from 1718 until 1743 and Duke of Argyll in the United Kingdom from 1892; sat in the House of Lords as Earl of Greenwich 1705–1743, and as Baron Sundridge 1782-1892
AnneDouglas[18]10 April 1703DouglasExtinct 21 July 1761Created for the Marquess of Douglas
Atholl[19]30 June 1703MurrayExtantSat in the House of Lords as Earl Strange 1786-1957
Montrose[20]24 April 1707GrahamExtantSat in the House of Lords as Earl Graham 1782-1963
Roxburghe[21]25 April 1707KerExtantDormant 22 October 1805 – 11 May 1812; Sat in the House of Lords as Earl Ker 1782-1804 and as Earl Innes 1837-1963

Dukedoms in the Peerage of Great Britain, 1707–1801

  •   This indicates a Royal Dukedom.
  •   This indicates an extant Dukedom.
MonarchTitleDate of CreationGranteeSurnameCurrent StatusNotes
AnneDover26 May 1708James Douglas, Duke of QueensberryDouglasExtinct 22 October 1778Also Duke of Queensberry in Scotland
Kent28 April 1710Henry Grey, Marquess of KentGreyExtinct 5 June 1740
Brandon10 September 1711James Hamilton, Duke of HamiltonDouglas-HamiltonExtantAlso Duke of Hamilton in Scotland
George IAncaster and Kesteven26 July 1715Robert Bertie, Marquess of LindseyBertieExtinct 8 February 1809
Kingston-upon-Hull10 August 1715Evelyn Pierrepont, Marquess of DorchesterPierrepontExtinct 23 September 1773
Newcastle upon Tyne11 August 1715Thomas Pelham-Holles, Earl of ClarePelham-HollesExtinct 17 November 1768Also Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne from 1757
York and Albany5 July 1716Ernest Augustus, Prince-Bishop of OsnabrückHanoverExtinct 14 August 1728
Portland6 July 1716Henry Bentinck, Earl of PortlandBentinckExtinct 30 July 1990
Wharton28 January 1718Philip Wharton, Marquess of WhartonWhartonExtinct 31 May 1731
Kendal19 March 1719Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of MunsterSchulenburgExtinct 10 May 1743Also Duchess of Munster in Ireland, peerage for life only
Greenwich27 April 1719John Campbell, Duke of ArgyllCampbellExtinct 4 October 1743Also Duke of Argyll in Scotland
Manchester28 April 1719Charles Montagu, Earl of ManchesterMontaguExtant
Chandos29 April 1719James Brydges, Earl of CarnarvonBrydgesExtinct 29 September 1789
Dorset[22]17 June 1720Lionel Cranfield Sackville, Earl of DorsetSackvilleExtinct 29 July 1843
Bridgewater[22]18 June 1720Scroop Egerton, Earl of BridgewaterEgertonExtinct 8 March 1803
Edinburgh[23]26 July 1726Prince Frederick LouisHanoverMerged in crown 25 October 1760Also Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay from 1727 to 1751
Cumberland[23]27 July 1726Prince Ernest AugustusHanoverExtinct 31 October 1765
George IINewcastle-under-Lyne[24]17 November 1756Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle upon TynePelham-Holles, Pelham-ClintonExtinct 25 December 1988Also Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne until 1768
York and Albany[25]1 April 1760Prince Edward AugustusHanoverExtinct 17 September 1767
George IIIGloucester and Edinburgh[26]19 November 1764Prince William HenryHanoverExtinct 30 November 1834
Northumberland22 October 1766Hugh Percy, Earl of NorthumberlandPercyExtant
Cumberland and Strathearn22 October 1766Prince Henry FrederickHanoverExtinct 18 September 1790
Montagu5 November 1766George Montagu, Earl of CardiganMontaguExtinct 23 May 1790
York and Albany[27]29 November 1784Prince Frederick AugustusHanoverExtinct 5 January 1827
Clarence and St Andrews[28]20 May 1789Prince William HenryHanoverMerged in crown 26 June 1830
Kent and Strathearn[29]24 April 1799Prince Edward AugustusHanoverExtinct 23 January 1820
Cumberland and Teviotdale[29]24 April 1799Prince Ernest AugustusHanoverSuspended 28 March 1919

(continues below Ireland as Dukedoms of the United Kingdom)

Dukedoms in the Peerage of Ireland, 1661–1868

  •   This indicates an extant Dukedom.
MonarchDukedomDate of CreationGranteeSurnameCurrent StatusNotes
Charles IIOrmonde30 March 1661James Butler, Marquess of OrmondeButlerExtinct 17 December 1758Also Duke of Ormonde in England until 1715; the title was generally considered forfeit after 1715, and the third duke, brother of the attainted second duke, who held the title after 1745, did not use it.
William III and Mary IILeinster3 March 1691Lord Meinhardt SchombergSchombergExtinct 16 July 1719Also Duke of Schomberg in England from 1693
George IMunster18 July 1716Ehrengard Melusine von der SchulenburgSchulenbergExtinct 10 May 1743Also Duchess of Kendal in Great Britain from 1719
George IIILeinster[30]26 November 1766James FitzGerald, Marquess of KildareFitzGeraldExtantSat in the British House of Lords as Viscount Leinster 1747–1999
VictoriaAbercorn10 August 1868James Hamilton, Marquess of AbercornHamiltonExtantSat in the House of Lords as Marquess of Abercorn 1868–1999

Dukedoms in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1801–present

  •   This indicates a Royal Dukedom.
  •   This indicates an extant (non-royal) Dukedom.
MonarchDukedomDate of CreationGranteeSurnameCurrent StatusNotesRef.
George IIISussex27 November 1801Prince Augustus FrederickHanoverExtinct 21 April 1843[31]
Cambridge27 November 1801Prince AdolphusHanoverExtinct 17 March 1904[31]
Wellington11 May 1814Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of WellingtonWellesleyExtant[32]
George IVBuckingham and Chandos4 February 1822Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, Marquess of BuckinghamTemple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-GrenvilleExtinct 26 March 1889[33]
William IVSutherland28 January 1833George Leveson-Gower, Marquess of StaffordLeveson-Gower; Sutherland-Leveson-Gower; EgertonExtant[34]
Cleveland29 January 1833William Vane, Marquess of ClevelandVane; PowlettExtinct 21 August 1891[34]
VictoriaInverness10 April 1840Cecilia UnderwoodUnderwoodExtinct 1 August 1873Wife of The Duke of Sussex[35]
Edinburgh24 May 1866Prince AlfredSaxe-Coburg and GothaExtinct 30 July 1900[36]
Westminster27 February 1874Hugh Grosvenor, Marquess of WestminsterGrosvenorExtant[37]
Connaught and Strathearn24 May 1874Prince ArthurSaxe-Coburg and GothaExtinct 26 April 1943[38]
Gordon13 January 1876Charles Gordon-Lennox, Duke of RichmondGordon-LennoxExtantAlso Duke of Richmond in England and Duke of Lennox in Scotland[39]
Albany24 May 1881Prince LeopoldSaxe-Coburg and GothaSuspended 28 March 1919[40]
Fife29 July 1889Alexander Duff, Earl of FifeDuffExtinct 29 January 1912Letters Patent contained the standard remainder "heirs male of his body". A re-creation in 1900 allowed the first Duke's daughters and their male issue to inherit (see below).[41]
Clarence and Avondale24 May 1890Prince Albert Victor of WalesSaxe-Coburg and GothaExtinct 14 January 1892[42]
Argyll7 April 1892George Campbell, Duke of ArgyllCampbellExtantAlso Duke of Argyll in Scotland[43]
York24 May 1892Prince George of WalesSaxe-Coburg and GothaMerged in crown 6 May 1910Also Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay from 1901[44]
Fife24 April 1900Alexander Duff, Duke of FifeDuff; CarnegieExtant[45]
George VYork5 June 1920Prince AlbertWindsorMerged in crown 11 December 1936[46]
Gloucester31 March 1928Prince HenryWindsorExtant[47]
Kent12 October 1934Prince GeorgeWindsorExtant[48]
George VIWindsor8 March 1937Prince EdwardWindsorExtinct 28 May 1972[49]
Edinburgh20 November 1947Philip MountbattenMountbatten; MountbattenMerged in crown 8 September 2022[50]
Elizabeth IIYork23 July 1986Prince AndrewWindsorExtant[51]
Cambridge29 April 2011Prince William of WalesWindsorExtantAlso Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay from 2022[52]
Sussex19 May 2018Prince Harry of WalesWindsorExtant[53]
Charles IIIEdinburgh10 March 2023Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and ForfarWindsorExtantFor life only[54]

See also

References