Knollys Family Genealogy & History

Lettice Knollys, Countess of Essex and Leicester (1543–1634), was an influential English noblewoman closely tied to the Tudor court. Known for her beauty and courtly presence, she was a Maid of the Privy Chamber and later the wife of Walter Devereux and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Elizabeth I's favorite. Her marriage to Dudley elicited Queen Elizabeth's ire, leading to her permanent banishment from court. Despite personal losses, including the public execution of her son, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, Lettice remained a prominent figure, defending her rights and maintaining her status.

Born at Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire, Lettice Knollys was the daughter of Sir Francis Knollys and Catherine Carey. Her maternal lineage connected her to the Boleyn family, making her Queen Elizabeth I's first cousin once removed. Raised in a Protestant household, her family sought refuge in Germany during Queen Mary I's reign, later returning under Elizabeth's rule, where her family flourished at court.

Elizabeth Knollys, Lady Leighton, was a prominent English courtier serving Queen Elizabeth I as a Maid of Honour and later as a Gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber. Known for her connections to the English throne, she was the grand-niece of Anne Boleyn and a cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth. Despite her sister Lettice’s banishment from court, Elizabeth maintained her influential role. She married Sir Thomas Leighton, Governor of Jersey and Guernsey, in 1578. Elizabeth was admired by Sir Walter Raleigh, who wrote her a poem, and was a notable figure at court, receiving numerous New Year’s presents from the Queen.

Elizabeth Knollys was born into a distinguished family on 15 June 1549, as the second daughter of Sir Francis Knollys and Catherine Carey. Her maternal lineage linked her to Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife. Raised in a Protestant household, she experienced the religious tensions of the era, with her family seeking refuge in Germany during Mary Tudor's reign. The Knollys family was significant in the English court, with her mother serving as Chief Lady of the Bedchamber and her sister Lettice also holding court positions.

Eardley Knollys (1902–1991) was a prominent figure in the British art scene, known for his roles as an art critic, dealer, and collector, particularly within the Bloomsbury Group. He co-managed The Storran Gallery, showcasing works by notable artists like Amedeo Modigliani and Maurice Utrillo. After closing the gallery in 1944, he joined the National Trust during WWII and later inherited a significant art collection from Edward Sackville-West. This collection, now part of The Radev Collection, highlights his lasting impact on the art world.

Born in Alresford, Hampshire, Eardley Knollys was the son of Cyprian Robert Knollys, a land agent with connections to the Earl of Banbury, and Audrey Hill. He received his education at Winchester College and Christ Church, Oxford.

Viscount Knollys is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1911 for Francis Knollys, who served as Private Secretary to the Sovereign from 1901 to 1913. Notable for his contributions to the monarchy, Knollys was previously made Baron Knollys in 1902. The second Viscount, Edward George William Tyrwhitt Knollys, was recognized for his role as Governor of Bermuda. As of 2023, the title is held by Patrick Nicholas Mark Knollys, the fourth Viscount. The family seat is Bramerton Grange, near Norwich, Norfolk.

The Knollys family has a distinguished lineage, descending in the senior male line from William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury, although this earldom's extinction has been contested. The third Viscountess Knollys, a sister of Baron Farnham, notably served as Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk.