Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (1730-1782)

Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Earl of Malton, 6th Baron Rockingham and 1st Marquess of Rockingham (1693-1750)

Lewis Watson, 1st Earl of Rockingham (1655-1724)

Thomas Watson, 3rd Earl of Rockingham (1715-1746) (earldom extinct at his death)

The title Marquess of Rockingham in the peerage of Great Britain was created for Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 6th Baron Rockingham, in 1746. The Watson-Wentworth family were descended from the Watsons of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire who were given a barony in 1645. In 1714 the 3rd Baron was created Earl of Rockingham, Viscount Sondes and Baron Throwley. At the death of the 3rd Earl, all his titles became extinct, except the barony, which passed to his cousin, who had been created Baron Malton in 1728 and Earl of Malton, Viscount Higham, Baron Harrowden and Baron Wath in 1733. The 1st Earl of Malton adopted the name Wentworth when he inherited the estate of his maternal uncle, the 2nd Earl of Strafford, in 1695. He was created Marquess of Rockingham in 1746. The second Marquess, son of the first, became Prime Minister of Great Britain. Before acceding to the marquessate he had been created Baron Malton (1750) and Earl Malton (1750) in the Peerage of Ireland. When he died in 1782 all of his titles became extinct. His estates passed to his nephew, the 4th Earl Fitzwilliam.