Earl De La Warr ( ) is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1761 for John West, 7th Baron De La Warr. The Earl holds the subsidiary titles of Viscount Cantelupe (1761) in the Peerage of Great Britain, Baron De La Warr (1572) in the Peerage of England, and

Baron Buckhurst The title Baron Buckhurst has been created twice; once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was first created in 1567 for Thomas Sackville, MP for East Grinstead and Aylesbury. He was later created Earl ...

, of Buckhurst in the County of Sussex (1864) in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The barony De La Warr is of the second creation; however, it bears the precedence of the first creation, 1299, and has done so since shortly after the death of

William West, 1st Baron De La Warr William West, 1st Baron De La Warr ( ) of the second creation (c. 1530 – 30 December 1595) was the elder son of Sir George West (d.1538), second son of Thomas West, 8th Baron De La Warr, by his third wife, Eleanor Copley, and Elizabeth Morto ...

. The family seat is Buckhurst Park, near

Withyham Withyham is a village and large civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The village is situated 7 miles south west of Royal Tunbridge Wells and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Crowborough; the parish covers approxi ...

, Sussex.

Etymology

The name ''de La Warr'' is from Sussex and of

Anglo Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to, or descent from, the Angles, England, English culture, the English people or the English language, such as in the term ''Anglosphere''. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to peopl ...

- French origin. It may have come from ''La Guerre'', a

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

lieu-dit ''Lieu-dit'' (; plural: ''lieux-dits'') (literally ''said-location'') is a French toponymic term for a small geographical area bearing a traditional name. The name usually refers to some characteristic of the place, its former use, a past event, ...

''. This

toponymic Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...

could derive from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

word ''

ager Ager or AGER may refer to: * Ager (surname) * Ager (river), a river in Upper Austria *Àger, a municipality in Catalonia, Spain * Viscounty of Àger, a medieval Catalan jurisdiction that branched off the County of Urgell * Ager, California, uninc ...

'', from the

Breton Breton most often refers to: *anything associated with Brittany, and generally ** Breton people ** Breton language, a Southwestern Brittonic Celtic language of the Indo-European language family, spoken in Brittany ** Breton (horse), a breed **Ga ...

gwern (meaning "Alder") is a minor figure in Welsh tradition. He is the son of Matholwch, king of Ireland, and Branwen, sister to the king of Britain. He appears in the tale of '' Branwen, daughter of Llŷr'', in which his murder at the hands of his s ...

'' or from the

Late Latin Late Latin ( la, Latinitas serior) is the scholarly name for the form of Literary Latin of late antiquity.Roberts (1996), p. 537. English dictionary definitions of Late Latin date this period from the , and continuing into the 7th century in t ...

' (

fallow Fallow is a farming technique in which arable land is left without sowing for one or more vegetative cycles. The goal of fallowing is to allow the land to recover and store organic matter while retaining moisture and disrupting pest life cycl ...

). The toponyms Gara, Gaire also appear in old texts cited by

Lucien Musset Lucien Musset (26 August 1922 – 15 December 2004) was a French historian, specializing in the Duchy of Normandy and the history of the Vikings. Biography Born in Rennes, Musset served as a professor of history at the University of Caen. Selec ...

, where the word ''ga(i)ra'' means

gore Gore may refer to: Places Australia * Gore, Queensland * Gore Creek (New South Wales) * Gore Island (Queensland) Canada * Gore, Nova Scotia, a rural community * Gore, Quebec, a township municipality * Gore Bay, Ontario, a township on Manitouli ...

. It could also be linked with a

patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. Patronymics are still in use, including mandatory use, in many countries worldwide, alt ...

from the

Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlemen ...

'' verr''. The barony and earldom are both pronounced "De La Ware", as in the American state of

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...

Baronies of De La Warr

The barony De La Warr is of the second creation; however, it bears the precedence of the first creation, 1299, and has done so since shortly after the death of

. The precise legal situation concerning the second creation is murky. The modern rules attempt to regularize medieval practice, but there are many cases that cannot easily be made to fit, whether because a local custom was involved, or because an exception was made, or because the rules were still in flux. This is such a case because William West was ''heir male'' but not ''heir general''. Because the original barony was created by

writ In common law, a writ (Anglo-Saxon ''gewrit'', Latin ''breve'') is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court. Warrants, prerogative writs, subpoenas, a ...

, the descent is presumed to be to the heir (or heirs) general, and therefore it fell into abeyance between the daughters of Sir Owen West (and their heirs in turn). The second creation has been viewed in at least three ways: * As a means of placing beyond dispute an inheritance that should have gone to the heir male in the first place. The act concerning precedence is understood as rectifying the side effect this had of altering the precedence. Accordingly, some writers ignore the second creation when numbering: thus

Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr ( ; 9 July 1577 – 7 June 1618), was an English merchant and politician, for whom the bay, the river, and, consequently, a Native American people and U.S. state, all later called "Delaware", were named. He wa ...

, is sometimes called the 12th Baron De La Warr. * As an extraordinary act resolving an important estate that should not be left in abeyance. In this case, the previous barony was intended to be extinguished and the act altering precedence is difficult to understand other than as political expediency. * As a part of an effort to solve relatively complex problems of inheritance case by case, before the doctrine of abeyance (as it now exists) had been worked out.

Connection to American geographical names

In United States history books,

is often named simply as "Lord Delaware". He served as governor of the Jamestown Colony in

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

, and

Delaware Bay Delaware Bay is the estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the northeast seaboard of the United States. It is approximately in area, the bay's freshwater mixes for many miles with the saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean. The bay is bordered inland ...

was named after him. The state of

, the Delaware River, and the Delaware Indian tribe were so-called after the bay, and thus ultimately derive their names from the barony. Many other American counties, townships, and the like derive their names directly or indirectly from this connection.

Other family members

Notable 20th-century descendants of

George Sackville-West, 5th Earl De La Warr George John Sackville-West, 5th Earl de la Warr, PC (26 October 1791 – 23 February 1869), styled Viscount Cantelupe until 1795, was a British courtier and Tory politician. Background Sackville-West was the son of John West, 4th Earl De La ...

include the authors

Lady Margaret Sackville Lady Margaret Sackville (24 December 1881 – 18 April 1963) was an English poet and children's author. Born at 60 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, Sackville was the youngest child of Reginald Windsor Sackville, 7th Earl De La Warr. She was a secon ...

Vita Sackville-West Victoria Mary, Lady Nicolson, CH (née Sackville-West; 9 March 1892 – 2 June 1962), usually known as Vita Sackville-West, was an English author and garden designer. Sackville-West was a successful novelist, poet and journalist, as wel ...

Nigel Nicolson Nigel Nicolson (19 January 1917 – 23 September 2004) was an English writer, publisher and politician. Early life and education Nicolson was the second son of writers Sir Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West; he had an elder brother Ben ...

and

Adam Nicolson Adam Nicolson, (born 12 September 1957) is an English author who has written about history, landscape, great literature and the sea. He is also the 5th Baron Carnock, but does not use the title. He is noted for his books ''Sea Room'' (about t ...

. Another member of the West family was

William Cornwallis-West William Cornwallis Cornwallis-West VD JP (20 March 1835 – 4 July 1917), was a British landowner, politician for seven years from 1885 and raised the 6th (Ruthin) Denbighshire Rifle Volunteer Corps followed by further ceremonial duties in th ...

(1835–1917), who was the grandson of the Hon. Frederick West, youngest son of the second Earl. Cornwallis-West was the father of

George Cornwallis-West Major George Frederick Myddleton Cornwallis-West (14 November 1874 – 1 April 1951) was a British officer of the Scots Guards. George Cornwallis-West was noted primarily for his marriages, the first to Jennie Jerome, mother of Winston Churchil ...

;

Daisy, Princess of Pless Daisy, Princess of Pless (Mary Theresa Olivia; ''née'' Cornwallis-West; 28 June 1873 – 29 June 1943) was a noted society beauty in the Edwardian period, and during her marriage a member of one of the wealthiest European noble families. Daisy an ...

; and Constance, Duchess of Westminster.

Barons De La Warr; First creation (1299)

* Roger la Warr, 1st Baron De La Warr ( fl. 1320) * John la Warr, 2nd Baron De La Warr (c. 1277–1347) *

Roger la Warr, 3rd Baron De La Warr Roger la Warr, 3rd Baron De La Warr (1326–1370),{{Cite book , last=Weis , first=Frederick Lewis , title=Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America before 1700, 8th Edition , publisher=Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. , ye ...

(c. 1329–1370) *

John la Warr, 4th Baron De La Warr John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

(c. 1344–1398) *

Thomas la Warr, 5th Baron De La Warr Thomas la Warr, 5th Baron De La Warr (c. 1352 – 7 May 1427) was an English nobleman, the second son of Roger la Warr, 3rd Baron De La Warr and Elizabeth de Welle, daughter of Adam, 3rd Baron Welles. Intended for the church, in 1363, De L ...

(c. 1352–1427) *

Reginald West, 6th Baron De La Warr Reginald West, 6th Baron De La Warr and 3rd Baron West (5 or 7 September 1395 – 27 August 1450) was an English nobleman and politician. Life Reginald was the second son of Thomas West, 1st Baron West (d. 19 April 1405) and Joan La Warre (d. ...

(c. 1394–1451) * Richard West, 7th Baron De La Warr (c. 1430–1476) *

Thomas West, 8th Baron De La Warr Thomas West, 8th Baron De La Warr and 5th Baron West, KB, KG (c.1457 – 11 October 1525) was an English courtier and military commander during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. Career Thomas Richard West was the eldest son of Richa ...

(c. 1457–1525) *

Thomas West, 9th Baron De La Warr Thomas West, 9th Baron De La Warr and 6th Baron West, KG (c. 1475 – 25 September 1554) was the eldest son of Thomas West, 8th Baron De La Warr, by his second wife, Elizabeth Mortimer, daughter of Sir Hugh Mortimer of Martley and Kyre Wyard, W ...

(c. 1475–1554) (either

abeyant Abeyance (from the Old French ''abeance'' meaning "gaping") is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vesting, vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the tru ...

or extinguished or merged 1554)

Barons De La Warr; Second creation (1572)

(1520–1595) (or 10th Baron) *

Thomas West, 2nd Baron De La Warr Thomas West, 2nd and 11th Baron De La Warr ( ; c. 1550 – 24 March 1601/1602) of Wherwell Abbey, Hampshire, was a member of Elizabeth I's Privy Council. Biography Thomas West was the eldest son of William West, 1st Baron De La Warr, by his f ...

(1556–1602) (or 11th Baron) *

(1577–1618) (or 12th Baron) * Henry West, 4th Baron De La Warr (1603–1628) (or 13th Baron) *

Charles West, 5th Baron De La Warr Charles West, 5th Baron De La Warr (February 1626 – 22 December 1687) was an English nobleman. He is alternatively described as the 14th Baron de la Warr and as Baron Delaware. He was born in February 1626, the son of Henry West, 4th Baron De L ...

(1626–1687) (or 14th Baron) *

John West, 6th Baron De La Warr John West, 6th Baron De La Warr (1663 – 26 May 1723) was an English nobleman and courtier. He is alternatively described as the 15th Baron de la Warr and as Baron Delaware. He was born the second son of Charles West, 5th Baron De La Warr and i ...

(1663–1723) (or 15th Baron) * John West, 7th Baron De La Warr (1693–1766) (or 16th Baron), who was created Earl De La Warr and Viscount Cantelupe in 1761.

Earls De La Warr (1761)

John West, 1st Earl De La Warr Lieutenant-General John West, 1st Earl De La Warr (4 April 169316 March 1766), styled The Honourable John West until 1723 and known as The Lord De La Warr between 1723 and 1761, was a British soldier, courtier and politician who sat in the Hous ...

(1693–1766) (7th Baron) **

John West, 2nd Earl De La Warr John West, 2nd Earl De La Warr (9 May 1729 – 22 November 1777) was a British peer, politician and army officer. Early life Born The Honourable John West, he was the son of John West, 7th Baron De La Warr and his first wife, the former Lady Cha ...

(1729–1777) *** William Augustus West, 3rd Earl De La Warr (1757–1783) *** John Richard West, 4th Earl De La Warr (1758–1795) **** George John Sackville-West, 5th Earl De La Warr (1791–1869) ***** Charles Richard Sackville West, 6th Earl De La Warr (1815–1873) ***** Reginald Windsor Sackville, 7th Earl De La Warr (1817–1896) ****** Gilbert George Reginald Sackville, 8th Earl De La Warr (1869–1915) ******* Herbrand Edward Dundonald Brassey Sackville, 9th Earl De La Warr (1900–1976) ******** William Herbrand Sackville, 10th Earl De La Warr (1921–1988) ********* William Herbrand Sackville, 11th Earl De La Warr (b. 1948) The

heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...

is the present holder's son William Herbrand Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst (b. 1979), nine generations away from the first Earl. The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son William Lionel Robert Sackville (b. 2014).

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:De La Warr Earldoms in the Peerage of Great Britain

Earl Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form '' jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particula ...

Noble titles created in 1761 People from Withyham