Audley Family Genealogy & History

Eleanor Audley, born Eleanor Zellman, was a renowned American actress celebrated for her distinctive voice and memorable roles. She gained fame for voicing iconic Disney villains, including Lady Tremaine in "Cinderella" (1950) and Maleficent in "Sleeping Beauty" (1959). In television, she played Eunice Douglas on "Green Acres" and appeared in popular series such as "I Love Lucy" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Audley was also a staple in radio, known for roles on "My Favorite Husband" and "Father Knows Best."

Eleanor Audley was born in Newark, New Jersey, on November 19, 1905. Her family relocated to Manhattan, New York City, by 1917.

Maxine Audley (1923–1992) was a renowned English theatre and film actress, celebrated for her extensive work with the Old Vic and Royal Shakespeare Company. She made her professional stage debut in 1940 and appeared in over 20 films, including "Anna Karenina" (1948), "Peeping Tom" (1960), and "The Trials of Oscar Wilde" (1960). Known for her powerful performances, Audley's notable stage roles included Lady Macduff in "Macbeth" and Tamora in "Titus Andronicus." Her television credits span popular series like "Danger Man" and "Space: 1999." Audley's career is marked by versatility and a profound impact on both stage and screen, making her a prominent figure in British performing arts history.

Maxine Audley was born in London to parents Henry Julius Hecht and Katherine Arkandy, a coloratura soprano. She was married four times, including to Frederick Granville, with whom she had a daughter, Deborah Jane. Audley's family background in the arts likely influenced her illustrious career in theatre and film.

Thomas Percy Henry Touchet-Jesson, 23rd Baron Audley, was a distinguished British peer known for his title inheritance and societal connections. Born on 15 September 1913 in Herefordshire, England, he became the 23rd Baron Audley on 27 May 1942, following the death of his second cousin, Mary Thicknesse-Touchet, 22nd Baroness Audley. Educated at Lancing College, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). His notable marriages included his union with Sarah Churchill, daughter of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, highlighting his connection to influential British figures. He passed away on 3 July 1963 during a trip to Granada, Spain, and was laid to rest in Málaga.

Thomas Touchet-Jesson was the son of Thomas Touchet Tuchet-Jesson and Annie Rosina Hammacott-Osler. This lineage underscores his deep-rooted connections to English nobility. Upon his death without heirs, the title of Baron Audley was transferred to his sister, Rosina, further extending the family's noble legacy.

Baron Audley is a historic title in the Peerage of England, first established in 1313 for Sir Nicholas Audley of Heighley Castle. Known for its connections to the Anglo-Norman Audley family, the title was revived in 1408 for the descendants of Joanne Audley and Sir John Tuchet. The 11th Baron Audley became the Earl of Castlehaven, although his son was executed, leading to a temporary forfeiture. The Audley title was later reinstated and passed through various lines until it became abeyant in 1997 after the death of Richard Souter, 25th Baron Audley.

The first creation of the Baron Audley title was for Sir Nicholas Audley, a member of the prestigious Anglo-Norman Audley family of Staffordshire. The barony experienced a significant lineage shift when the title passed to the Tuchet family through Joanne Audley, sister of the last senior Audley line baron.