SURREY, EARLDOM OF. This earldom is of uncertain but unquestionably early origin. A Norman count, William de Warenne (c. 1030-1088), is generally regarded as its first holder and is thought to have been made an earl by William II. about io88. William and his successors were styled earls of Surrey or Earls Warenne indifferently, and the family became extinct when William, the 3rd earl, died in 1148. The second family to hold the earldom of Surrey was descended from Isabel de Warenne (d. 1199), daughter and heiress of Earl William, and her second husband Hamelin Plantagenet (d. 1202), an illegitimate half brother of King Henry II. Their descendants held the earldom until Earl John died without legitimate issue in The earldom and estates of the Warennes now passed to John's nephew, Richard Fitzalan, earl of Arundel (c. 1307-1376), being forfeited when Richard's son, Richard, was beheaded for treason in 1397. Then for about two years there was a duke of Surrey,
the title being borne by Thomas Holand, earl of Kent (1374– 1400), from 1397 until his degradation in 1399. In 1400 Richard Fitzalan's son, Sir Thomas Fitzalan (1381-1415), was restored to his father's honours and became earl of Arundel and earl of Surrey, but the latter earldom reverted to the Crown when he died. In I45i John Mowbray (1444-1476), afterwards duke of Norfolk, was created earl of Surrey, but the title died with him. The long connection of the Howards with the earldom of Surrey began in 1483 when Thomas Howard, afterwards duke of Norfolk, was created earl of Surrey. Since then, with brief excep tions, the title has been borne by the duke of Norfolk.