Earl of Devon

The title of Earl of Devon was created several times in the English peerage, and was possessed first by the de Redvers (de Reviers, Revieres) family, and later by the Courtenays. It is not to be confused with the title of "Earl of Devonshire", held, together with the title Duke of Devonshire, by the Cavendish family, although the letters patent for the creation of the latter peerages used the same Latin words, Comes Devon.

Close kinsmen and powerful allies of the Plantagenet kings, especially Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V, the Earls of Devon were treated with suspicion by the Tudors, perhaps unfairly, partly because William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (1475-1511), had married Catherine of York, a younger daughter of King Edward IV, bringing the Earls of Devon very close to the line of succession. During the Tudor period all but the last Earl were attainted, and there were several recreations and restorations. The last recreation was to the heirs male of the grantee, not (as would be usual) to the heirs male of his body. When he died unmarried, it was assumed the title was extinct, but a much later Courtenay, whose common ancestor was seven generations before this Earl, successfully claimed the title in 1831. During this period the de jure Earls of Devon were made baronets and Viscounts.

During this time, an earldom, now called for distinction the Earldom of Devonshire, was created twice, once for Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy, who had no legitimate children, and a second time for the Cavendishes, now Dukes of Devonshire. Unlike the Dukes of Devonshire, the Earls of Devon were strongly connected to the county of Devon. Their seat is Powderham Castle, near Starcross on the River Exe.

The Earl of Devon has not inherited the original Barony of Courtenay or the Viscountcy of Courtenay of Powderham (1762–1835); nevertheless, his heir is styled Lord Courtenay by courtesy.