Marquess of Waterford - Family History

Family History

The Beresford family descends from Tristram Beresford, who originated from Kent but settled in Ireland in the 17th century. His eldest son Tristram Beresford sat as a member of the Irish House of Commons. On 5 May 1665 he was created a baronet, of Coleraine in the County of Londonderry, in the Baronetage of Ireland. His great-grandson (the title having descended from father to son), the fourth Baronet, married Lady Catherine, oldest daughter of James de la Poer, 3rd Earl of Tyrone (see Earl of Tyrone). In 1720 he was raised in the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Beresford, of Beresford, in the County of Cavan, and Viscount Tyrone. He was further honoured when he was made Earl of Tyrone in the Peerage of Ireland in 1746. In 1767, four years after his death, the Dowager Countess of Tyrone was confirmed with the hereditary peerage title Baroness La Poer in the Peerage of Ireland (created by writ ca. 1650).

Lord Tyrone was succeeded by his fourth but eldest surviving son, the second Earl, who also inherited the title Baron La Poer from his mother in 1769. In 1786 he was created Baron Tyrone, of Haverfordwest in the County of Pembroke, in the Peerage of Great Britain. Three years later he was made Marquess of Waterford in the Peerage of Ireland. The titles descended in the direct line until the death of his grandson, the third Marquess, in 1859. The late Marquess was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Marquess. As of 2010 the titles are held by the latter's great-great-grandson, the eighth Marquess, who succeeded in 1934 at the age of one on the early death of his father.

The eldest son of the Marquess is styled with the courtesy title Earl of Tyrone and the Earl's eldest son as Lord Le Pour.