+Knightly.+
FITZWILLIAM OF WENTWORTH HOUSE; EARL FITZWILLIAM 1746; BARON of
IRELAND 1620.
[Illustration] William FitzGodric, who married Albreda de Lizours,
Lady of Sprotsborough, in this county, and who died before 1195, is
the remote ancestor of this ancient house. Their son, William
FitzWilliam, was seated at Sprotsborough in the reign of Henry II.,
and here the family continued till the extinction of the elder line,
which ended in coheiresses in the reign of Henry VIII.
The rise of this branch of the family must be ascribed to Sir
William Fitzwilliam, Lord Justice, and afterwards Lord Deputy of
Ireland, in the reign of Elizabeth, whose grandson was created Baron
Fitzwilliam in 1620. In the year 1565, Hugh Fitzwilliam collected
whatever evidences could be found touching the descent of the
family. This account, which is in the possession of Earl
Fitzwilliam, is the foundation of most of the histories of this
great family, whose present Yorkshire property came from the
Wentworths through the coheiress of the Marquis of Rockingham in
1744. From this match resulted the Earldom in 1746.
See Hunter's South Yorkshire, vol. i. p. 331, vol. ii. p. 93; and
Brydges's Collins, vol. iv. p. 374.
ARMS.--_Lozengy argent and gules_. The present coat, except that
ermine takes the place of argent, was borne by Thomas Fitzwilliam in
the reign of Henry III. In that of Richard II. William Fitzwilliam
bore the arms as at present used.
Present Representative, William Thomas Spencer
Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, K.G. 6th Earl Fitzwilliam.