The Complete Peerage

The Complete Peerage (full title: The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom Extant, Extinct, or Dormant); first edition by George Edward Cokayne, Clarenceux King of Arms; 2nd edition revised by Vicary Gibbs et al.) is a comprehensive and magisterial work on the titled aristocracy of the British Isles.

The Complete Peerage

1910–1998
Author	G. E. Cokayne et al.
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (From 1927, United Kingdom and Irish Free State)
Language	English
Genre	Genealogy
Publisher	George Bell & Sons
ISBN	0-904387-82-8
OCLC	60066829
Dewey Decimal	929.7/2 19
LC Class	CS421 .C7 1982

History

The Complete Peerage was first published in eight volumes between 1887 and 1898 by George Edward Cokayne (G. E. C.).

This version was effectively replaced by a new and enlarged edition between 1910 and 1959, edited successively by Vicary Gibbs (Cokayne's nephew), H. A. (Herbert Arthur^[1]) Doubleday, Duncan Warrand, Lord Howard de Walden, Geoffrey H. White and R. S. Lea. The revised edition, published by the St Catherine Press Limited, was in twelve volumes, with volume twelve issued in two parts.^[2]

Volume thirteen was issued in 1940, not as part of the alphabetical sequence, but as a supplement covering creations and promotions within the peerage between 1900 and 1938. The leading researcher on the project was Ethel Stokes and the five volumes from 1929 to 1949 acknowledge her major contribution.^[3]

The work has been reprinted in a number of formats, most notably by Alan Sutton Publishers who reduced it in size to six volumes in a photographically reduced format. This contains four page images on each smaller page.

It was available on CD. A further reprint in six volumes appeared in 2000, together with Volume 14, which is an appendix, correcting the original publication (1910–1938) and briefly updating it to 1995.

Volumes

1st edition

Volume	Pub date^[4]	Additional material
I. A to Bo	1887	Page ix - Irish Peerage, &c. before the Sixteenth Century
II. Bra to C	1889
III. D to F	1890
IV. G to K	1892	Page i - Papal dispensations referring to Scotland
V. L to M	1893
VI. N to R	1895
VII. S to T	1896
VIII. U to Z, appendix, corrigenda, occurrences after 1 January 1898, and general index to notes, &c.	1898

All volumes edited by George Cokayne.

2nd edition

Volume	Pub date	Editors^[5]	Additional material
I. Ab-Adam to Basing	1910	Hon. Vicary Gibbs	Appendix A - page 457 - Some observations on early Irish Baronies Appendix B - page 465 - The dukedom of Châtellerault Appendix C - page 469 - Precedency of peers in Parliament by Royal prerogative Appendix D - page 472 - Precedency anomalously allowed Appendix E - page 475 - Scottish peerages forfeited after the Risings of 1715 and 1745, and subsequent restorations Appendix F - page 480 - Jacobite Peerages Appendix G - page 490 - Eldest sons of peers summoned to Parliament v.p. in one of their father's peerages Appendix H - page 496 - Amusements of men of fashion in 1782 Appendix I - page 499 - Politics of Peers Appendix J - page 503 - Grant of the Comté of Aumale to Richard, Earl of Warwick
II. Bass to Canning	1912	Hon. Vicary Gibbs	Appendix A - page 525 - The Loyalists Bloody Roll Appendix B - page 527 - The Order Of The Garter Appendix C - page 597 - The Battle Of Boroughbridge Appendix D - page 603 - The Great Offices Of State Appendix E - page 649 - Officers Of The College Of Arms Appendix F - page 651 - Coronation Peerages Appendix G - page 656 - Lord Lieutenants Dismissed By James II Appendix H - page 658 - Principal Persons In Arms For The Prince Of Orange
III. Canonteign to Cutts	1913	Hon. Vicary Gibbs with the assistance of H. A. Doubleday^[6]	Appendix A - page 589 - Surrender of peerages in England Appendix B - page 592 - A list of peers and heirs apparent of peers who served in the South African War of 1899–1902 Appendix C - page 597 - Some observations on medieval names Appendix D - page 631 - Peers present in and absent from James II's Irish parliament of 7 May 1689 Appendix E - page 635 - Peerage titles chosen to commemorate foreign achievements Appendix F - page 637 - Special remainders granted to commoners Appendix G - page 639 - Peers and peeresses converted to the Roman Catholic faith since 1850 Appendix H - page 642 - Profuse creations and promotions in the Irish peerage Appendix I - page 648 - Peers who voted against the third reading of the Reform Bill
IV. Dacre to Dysart	1916	Hon. Vicary Gibbs with the assistance of H. A. Doubleday^[6]	Appendix A - page 571 - Peers (present or future) included in "Fox's Martyrs" at the election of 1784 Appendix B - page 573 - Peers who were commanders or captains in the Commonwealth armies Appendix C - page 575 - The greatest estates in Ireland in 1799 Appendix D - page 576 - Earldoms created by Stephen and the Empress Maud Appendix E - page 580 - Courtesy titles Appendix F - page 583 - Peers who have been Presidents of the Union Societies at Oxford and Cambridge Appendix G - page 585 - The Protectorate House of Lords, commonly known as Cromwell's "Other House," 1657–1659 Appendix H - page 651 - Earldoms and baronies in history and in law, and the doctrine of abeyance Appendix I - page 761 - Peverel of Nottingham Appendix J - page 772 - The entail of the Desmond lands in 1342/3
V. Eardley of Spalding to Goojerat	1921/6	Hon. Vicary Gibbs with the assistance of H. A. Doubleday^[6]	Appendix A - page 753 - Persons who are said to have been summoned to Parliament in right of their wives Appendix B - page 776 - Consolation peerages conferred on members and candidates defeated at the polls 1833–1900 Appendix C - page 780 - Peers who were directors of companies in 1896 and 1920 Appendix D - page 784 - The Battle of Flodden Appendix E - page 785 - Peerages created by Charles II while in exile Appendix F - page 787 - Peerage titles assumed by peers Appendix G - page 792 - Titles conferred on children or male issue of the sovereigns of England Appendix H - page 798 - The title of Marquess Appendix I - page 800 - A note on the Fitzwarin peerage case Appendix J - page 802 - The petition of Reynold West, Lord la Warre
VI. Gordon to Hurstpierpoint	1926	H. A. Doubleday,^[6] Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden	Appendix A - page 689 - The use of the particle "de" in titles Appendix B - page 694 - The Field of Cloth of Gold Appendix C - page 697 - Claims to the baronies of Grey (of Powis) and Cherleton Appendix D - page 702 - The barony of Hastings of Hungerford Appendix E - page 704 - Some examination of the grounds for the decision of the Lords in the case of the earldom of Norfolk Appendix F - page 706 - Bastards of Charles II Appendix G - page 709 - Dates of English parliaments before 1500 in writs to which baronies by writ now existing have their origin Appendix B - page 713 - Peers holding above 100,000 acres in 1883
VII. Husee to Lincolnshire	1929	H. A. Doubleday and Lord Howard de Walden	Appendix A - page 703 - Baronies created by patent or charter before the sixteenth century Appendix B - page 704 - The Lordship of the Isle of Wight Appendix C - page 705 - The Barony of Berkeley Appendix D - page 708 - The ancestors of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester Appendix E & F - page 718 - Limitations to "heirs male" Appendix G - page 734 - Peerage titles of a higher grade held without a barony Appendix H - page 735 - Claims to the barony of Delvin Appendix I - page 737 - Waleran, Count of Meulan, and his successors Appendix J - page 743 - The Countess Lucy Appendix K - page 747 - Attempted French invasion of Scotland, 1708
VIII. Lindley to Moate	1932	H. A. Doubleday and Lord Howard de Walden	Appendix A - page 721 - The ducal title in the British Isles Appendix B - page 749 - A note on the representation of the family of Keith Appendix C - page 751 - Life peerages Appendix D - page 754 - Margaret Fleming Appendix E - page 757 - Surnames of foreign dynasties Appendix F - page 759 - Peers and sons of peers who served in the Great War, 1914–18 Appendix G - page 827 - Some observations on the two earldoms of Mar
IX. Moels to Nuneham	1936	H. A. Doubleday and Lord Howard de Walden	[Appendices are on separately numbered pages in Volumes IX to XII] Appendix A - page 3 - A note on the relationship between the families of Mortimer and Warenne Appendix B - page 8 - English baronies created by Henry III Appendix C - page 23 - Cardinal Beton's secret bond Appendix D - page 25 - The ancestry of Sir Edward Montagu of Boughton, Chief Justice of the King's Bench 1539 Appendix E - page 30 - Observations on the baronies of Montagu and Monthermer Appendix F - page 44 - A note on the creation of the barony of Monteagle Appendix G - page 45 - Some observations on the Mowbray and Segrave case of 1877 Appendix H - page 58 - The Lords Morley and the Marshalcy of Ireland Appendix I - page 61 - The Montmorency pedigree and the family of Morres Appendix J - page 75 - The Mar case
X. Oakham to Richmond	1945	H. A. Doubleday and Lord Howard de Walden	Appendix A - page 3 - Norse predecessors of the Earls of Orkney Appendix B - page 32 - The Earldom of Carrick Appendix C - page 35 - Creation-charters of Irish Earldoms Appendix D - page 40 - The Earldom of Ormond Appendix E - page 45 - The restoration of the Earldom of Oxford in 1393 Appendix F - page 47 - The office of Lord Great Chamberlain of England Appendix G - page 91 - The rise of the Marshal Appendix H - page 100 - The families of the first and second Earls of Pembroke Appendix I - page 105 - Creation and investitutre Appendix J - page 110 - The early Veres Appendix K - page 121 - Remainders in the creation-charters of 14th-century Earldoms Appendix L - page 127 - The succession to the Earldom of Pembroke Appendix M - page 130 - Secret service payments to the Duchess of Portsmouth Appendix N - page 132 - The Flodden augmentation
XI Rickerton to Sisonby	1949	G. H. White	Appendix A - page 2 - The Irish peerage before 1500 Appendix B - page 7 - The Battle of Bannock Burn Appendix C - page 39 - Heralds of the nobility Appendix D - page 105 - Henry I's illegitimate children Appendix E - page 122 - Marshals under the Conqueror Appendix F - page 126 - The Earldoms of Wiltshire and Salisbury Appendix G - page 133 - The Plantagent enamel at Le Mans Appendix H - page 143 - Soi-disant Scottish peers: Ruthven and Rutherford Appendix I - page 148 - The Baronies of Saye and Sele Appendix J - page 152 - The descent of Scales Appendix K - page 155 - The date of the creation of the Earldom of Shrewsbury
XII (part 1) Skelmersdale to Towton	1953	G. H. White	Appendix A - page 2 - Baronies by writ Appendix B - page 4 - "Tête-à-tête portraits" in The Town and Country Magazine Appendix C - page 5 - Peers who married actresses, singers or dancers Appendix D - page 6 - Slane peerage case, 1830–35 "The case of George Bryan, Esq." Appendix E - page 8 - The descent of the Barony of Spynie Appendix F - page 11 - Nicholas de Stafford and Nicholas the Sheriff Appendix G - page 14 - The soi-disant Earls of Stirling Appendix H - page 18 - The succession to the Barony of Strange (of Blackmere) Appendix I - page 21 - The sons of John (de la Pole), 2nd Duke of Suffolk, by Elizabeth (of York), sister of Edward IV and Richard III Appendix J - page 26 - The Warenne group of checkered shields Appendix K - page 30 - The Conqueror's brothers and sisters Appendix L - page 35 - The Battle of Hastings and the death of Harold
XII (part 2) Tracton to Zouche	1959	G. H. White	Appendix A - page 2 - The Norman Earls of Warwick Appendix B - page 7 - The origin of Eustace FitzJohn Appendix C - page 12 - The soi-disant Earls of Tyrone Appendix D - page 14 - The creation of the Barony of Wharton in 1544 Appendix E - page 18 - The soi-disant Earls of Wigtown Appendix F - page 20 - Peers and sons of peers who have won the Victoria Cross Appendix G - page 25 - Portraits at Gorhambury Appendix H - page 26 - The alleged attainder of the Duke of Berwick-upon-Tweed Appendix I - page 29 - The early heraldry of de Quency Appendix J - page 32 - The Princes in the Tower Appendix K - page 40 - Problems of the Bayeux Tapestry Appendix L - page 45 - Claims to the alleged Barony of Wahull
XIII. Peers created 1901 to 1938	1940	H. A. Doubleday^[6] and Lord Howard de Walden	Appendix A - page 609 - The ancestry of Viscount Nuffield Appendix B - page 613 - Lord Nuffield's gifts of £25,000 and upwards
XIV. Addenda & corrigenda	1998	Peter W. Hammond

Volumes 1–5 have the title Complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct or dormant, and volumes 6–13: The complete peerage; or, A history of the House of lords and all its members from the earliest times.^[5]

See also

• Burke's Peerage

References

1. "George Edward Cokayne (1825-1911) - The Complete peerage, or a history of the House of Lords ... Volume XIII, Peers created 1901 to 1938 / by G.E.C. ; ... edited by the late H.A Doubleday and Lord Howard de Walden". www.rct.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
2. Powicke, F. M. (1960). "Reviews of Books: The Complete Peerage". English Historical Review. 75 (297): 673–677. doi:10.1093/ehr/LXXV.297.673. JSTOR 558117.
3. Barber, Brian (2014). "Stokes, Ethel (1870–1944)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/106742. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
4. "Complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct or dormant". Brigham Young University. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
5. The complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct or dormant. OpenLibrary.org. OL 14704031M.
6. Maclagan, Michael; Hammond, P. W. (revised) (2008) [2004]. "Doubleday, Herbert Arthur (1867–1941)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32865. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

External links

1st edition

• 1) Cokayne, G. E., ed. (1887). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant (A to Bo). Vol. 1 (1st ed.). London: George Bell & Sons.
• 2) Cokayne, G. E., ed. (1889). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant (Bra to C). Vol. 2 (1st ed.). London: George Bell & Sons.
• 3) Cokayne, G. E., ed. (1890). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant (D to F). Vol. 3 (1st ed.). London: George Bell & Sons.
• 4) Cokayne, G. E., ed. (1892). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant (G to K). Vol. 4 (1st ed.). London: George Bell & Sons.
• 5) Cokayne, G. E., ed. (1893). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant (L to M). Vol. 5 (1st ed.). London: George Bell & Sons.
• 6) Cokayne, G. E., ed. (1895). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant (N to R). Vol. 6 (1st ed.). London: George Bell & Sons.
• 7) Cokayne, G. E., ed. (1896). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant (S to T). Vol. 7 (1st ed.). London: George Bell & Sons.
• 8) Cokayne, G. E., ed. (1898). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant (U to Z, Appendix, Corrigenda, Occurrences after 1 January 1898, and General Index to Notes, &c.). Vol. 8 (1st ed.). London: George Bell & Sons.

2nd edition

• 1) Cokayne, G. E. (1910). Gibbs, Vicary (ed.). The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct or dormant (Ab-Adam to Basing). Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 2) Cokayne, G. E. (1912). Gibbs, Vicary (ed.). The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct or dormant (Bass to Canning). Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 3) Cokayne, G. E. (1913). Gibbs, Vicary & Doubleday, H. Arthur (eds.). The Complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct or dormant (Canonteign to Cutts). Vol. 3 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 4) Cokayne, G. E. (1916). Gibbs, Vicary & Doubleday, H. Arthur (eds.). The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct or dormant (Dacre to Dysart). Vol. 4 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 5) Cokayne, G. E. (1926). Gibbs, Vicary & Doubleday, H. A. (eds.). The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct or dormant (Eardley of Spalding to Goojerat). Vol. 5 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 6) Cokayne, G. E. (1926). H. A. Doubleday; Duncan Warrand & Lord Howard de Walden (eds.). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times (Gordon to Hustpierpoint). Vol. 6 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 7) Cokayne, G. E. (1929). H. A. Doubleday & Lord Howard de Walden (eds.). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times (Husee to Lincolnshire). Vol. 7 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 8) Cokayne, G. E. (1932). H. A. Doubleday & Lord Howard de Walden (eds.). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times (Lindley to Moate). Vol. 8 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 9) Cokayne, G. E. (1936). H. A. Doubleday & Lord Howard de Walden (eds.). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times (Moels to Nuneham). Vol. 9 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 10) Cokayne, G. E. (1945). H. A. Doubleday & Lord Howard de Walden (eds.). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times (Oakham to Richmond). Vol. 10 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 11) Cokayne, G. E. (1949). Geoffrey H. White (ed.). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times (Rickerton to Sisonby). Vol. 11 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 12.1) Cokayne, G. E. (1953). Geoffrey H. White (ed.). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times, volume XII part 1: Skelmersdale to Towton. Vol. 12 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 12.2) Cokayne, G. E. (1959). Geoffrey H. White (ed.). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times, volume XII part 2: Tracton to Zouche. Vol. 12 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 13) Cokayne, G. E. (1940). H. A. Doubleday & Lord Howard de Walden (eds.). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times, volume XIII: Peers created 1901 to 1938. Vol. 13 (2nd ed.). London: The St Catherine Press.
• 14) Cokayne, G. E. (1998). Hammond, Peter W. (ed.). The Complete Peerage, or a history of the House of Lords and all its members from the earliest times, volume XIV: Addenda & Corrigenda. Vol. 14 (2nd ed.). Stroud: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7509-0154-3.

External links

• Complete Peerage
• Medieval source material on the internet: Modern works: Peerages and other compilations
• Parliamentary Archives, The Complete Peerage Trust