Editing Spencer family

{{Short description|Aristocratic family in the United Kingdom}}
{{About|the British noble family|other people with the surname|Spencer (surname)}}
{{Infobox noble house
| surname = Spencer
| other_name = Spencer-Churchill
| coat of arms = Spencer Arms.svg
| image_size = 170px
| motto = {{Langnf|fr|Dieu défend le droit|God defends the right}}
| type = [[Noble family]]
| country = [[England]], [[Wales]]
| seat = [[Blenheim Palace]]
| estates = {{plainlist|
* [[Blenheim Palace]]
* [[Althorp]]
* [[Spencer House, London|Spencer House]]
* [[Wormleighton Manor]]
}}
| titles = {{plainlist|
* [[Princess of Wales]]
* [[Duke of Marlborough (title)|Duke of Marlborough]]
* [[Earl of Sunderland]]
* [[Earl Spencer (title)|Earl Spencer]]
* [[Viscount Churchill]]
* [[Viscount Althorp]]
* [[Baron Spencer of Wormleighton]]
* [[Spencer baronets#Spencer of Yarnton (1611)|Baronet of Yarnton]]
* [[Spencer baronets#Spencer of Offley (1627) First creation|Baronet of Offley]]
* [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]
}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1469}}
| founder = [[John Spencer (1455–1522)|Sir John Spencer]]
| current head = [[James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough]]
| cadet branches = [[Earl Spencer (peerage)|Spencers of Althorp]]
| members = {{plainlist|
* [[Sir Winston Churchill]]
* [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]
}}
| other_families = {{plainlist|
* [[British royal family]]
* [[Churchill family]]
* [[Cavendish family]]
}}
}}
[[File:Funeral display of Sir John Spencer.png|thumb|right|150px|The funeral honours of [[John Spencer (died 1600)|Sir John Spencer]](1546–1599). Displayed are both the Despencer arms, adopted after {{Circa|1595}} and the blue and white arms granted in 1504.]]

The '''Spencer family''' is an [[Aristocracy (class)|aristocratic]] British family. From the 16th century, its members have held numerous titles, including the [[dukedom of Marlborough]], the earldoms of [[Earl of Sunderland|Sunderland]] and [[Earl Spencer (title)|Spencer]], and the [[Baron Churchill (1815 creation)|Churchill barony]]. Two prominent members of the family during the 20th century were [[Sir Winston Churchill]] and [[Diana, Princess of Wales]].

==History==
===Descent and claims===

[[File:Henry le despenser crest.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Seal of Henry Le Despenser]]

The House was founded in the 15th century by Henry Spencer (died c. 1478), from whom all members descend. In the 16th century, the claim arose that the Spencers were a [[cadet branch]] of the older House [[Baron Le Despencer|Le Despencer]], though this theory has since been debunked, in particular by historian [[J. Horace Round]] in his essay ''The Rise of the Spencers''. The Spencers were first [[Armiger|granted a coat of arms]] in 1504, ''"Azure a fess Ermine between 6 sea-mews' heads erased Argent,"''  but this bears no resemblance to the arms used by the family after c. 1595, which were derived from the Despencer arms, ''"Quarterly Argent and Gules in the second and third quarters a Fret Or overall on a Bend Sable three Escallops of the first"'' (the scallops standing for the difference as a cadet branch). Round argued that the Despencer descent was fabricated by [[Richard Leigh (officer of arms)|Richard Lee (also "Leigh")]], a corrupt [[Clarencieux King of Arms]].<ref>Round, pp. 292–309</ref> Citing Round, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'' dismissed the alleged Despencer descent as an "elaborate imposture" which "is now incapable of deceiving the most credulous."<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/completepeerageo04coka#page/258/mode/2up The Complete Peerage, vol. 4, p. 259].  See also [https://archive.org/stream/ancestorquarterl02londuoft#page/188/mode/2up the Nov. 1902 edition of The Ancestor Quarterly], which described the Spencers as "that pushful house of shepherd kings" with a "brand new and more than doubtful pedigree."  Sounding a more gentle tone, Don Steel in the March 1996 edition of [http://www.sole.org.uk/factand.htm Soul Search] noted sadly that the pedigree forgery "obscures the real achievement of the Spencers of Althorpe. Alone, perhaps among the English nobility, the Spencers owed their riches and their rise not to the favour of a king or to the spoils of monasteries, nor even to a fortune made in trade, but to successful farming."</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-02/moa-01.html#Anchor-Despencers-47857| title = The Spencers and The Despencers| last = Round| first = J. Horace| date = 1901| website = The Baronage| publisher = The Baronage Press Ltd and Pegasus Associates Ltd| access-date = 1 January 2017|quote="So it was Clarencieux King of Arms who foisted this pedigree on Sir John Spencer in 1595. The family had, by that time, largely increased its wealth, for Sir John's mother was a daughter of the well-known Sir Thomas Kytson, who had acquired a great fortune as a mercer in London. Lee, to whom Queen Elizabeth said that "if he proved no better" than his predecessor Cooke, Clarencieux, "yt made no matter yf hee were hanged," must have felt that it was Sir John's duty to "pay, pay, pay" for a new pedigree and coat. For a hungry King of Arms he was a marked man. Now we can understand how it was that the monument erected in or after 1596 displays the Despencer coat, while those already existing in the interesting Spencer chapel became bedecked, right and left, with the fruits of Lee's discovery. When the heralds next visited the county (1617–18), the new baronial pedigree was entered in all its splendour. The shepherd peer was now of the stock of "ye Earles of Winchester and Glocester." A year later he had soared higher; he was in direct male descent from "Ivon Viscount de Constantine," who had married, even before the Conquest, a sister of the "earl of Brittany." And now let me once more insist on the modus operandi of Clarencieux Lee, the original rascal and the "onlie begetter" of this precious pedigree. He took from the records Spencers and Despencers wherever he could lay hands on them, fitted them together in one pedigree at his own sweet will, rammed into his composition several distinct families, and then boldly certified the whole as gospel truth. It is needless, after this exposure, to pursue further. We are, once more, simply dealing with one of those lying concoctions hatched within the walls of the Heralds' College, certified by its Kings of Arms, and still "on record" among its archives. This, be it observed, is no case of a tradition rashly or credulously accepted. Clarencieux compiled the pedigree, as he said he had done, from records; but, with these records before him, he deliberately and fraudulently invented a descent which their evidence proves to be false. He knew, therefore, perfectly well that what he officially certified to be true was a lie of his own invention. Recorded by Vincent at the Visitation of 1617, accepted by Garter Segar, certified by Garter Heard: even in the present century, this impudent concoction is an instance of what we owe to the College of Arms. The pedigrees with which it is hardest to deal are those in which fact and fiction are cunningly intertwined. Here, for instance, it is perfectly true that John le Despencer married Joan, daughter (and heiress) of Robert le Lou (Lupus), who brought him the manor of Castle-Carlton, Lincolnshire. This we learn from the Lincolnshire Inquest taken after his death, which proves that Joan died without surviving issue, and that John held the manor, by the courtesy of England, until his death. John himself had inherited the manor of Martley, Worcestershire, which had been granted to his father by Henry III. The heralds must have seen the difficulty caused by its not descending to his alleged sons, but being, on the contrary, afterwards found in the hands of the Hugh Despencers. For they "doctored" the pedigree accordingly. But their real crime was providing John with a wholly fictitious second wife, in order to make him the father of men with whom he had nothing to do."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-01/books-6a.html| title = The Spencer Family | last = Round| first = J. Horace| date = 1901| website = The Baronage| publisher = The Baronage Press Ltd and Pegasus Associates Ltd| access-date = 1 January 2017|quote="In 1504, John Spencer, an innovative and entrepreneurial yeoman, considered himself sufficiently successful to justify petitioning for a grant of arms. He was awarded Azure a fess Ermine between 6 sea-mews' heads erased Argent and could thenceforward be accounted a gentleman. (He was subsequently knighted by Henry VIII. ) At this time English society was still restructuring itself after the turmoil of the Wars of the Roses, and the gentry and the peerage were being restocked with new families seeking gentility.    If at this time, 1504, John Spencer had any thought that he might be descended from the great mediaeval family of the Despencers, if there had been any legend among his kinsmen that this could be so, if there had been any chance that the suggestion would be taken seriously by the heralds, then he must have asked for arms similar to those of the Despencers and a note of his request and of its grounds would have been made in the records. As it was, the arms he was awarded could hardly be more dissimilar from those of the Despencers (here on the right), and there is no note.  The arms granted in 1504 were used at least as late as 1576, and probably remained so in use until 1595, the year Richard Lee, Clarenceux King of Arms, visited the Spencer seat at Althorpe and "discovered" the family's descent as cadets of the great Despencers. The consequences of this visit included a monument to the memory of his host's father being erected with the ancient Despencer arms (with the addition of three escallops in bend) displayed instead of the Spencer arms, and an earlier monument to the 1504 grantee, the first Sir John Spencer, having the 1504 Spencer arms removed and replaced with the Despencer arms. This rewrote history."}}</ref>

===Rise to wealth===
A close relative of Henry Spencer (died c. 1478) was John Spencer, who in 1469 had become [[feoffee]] (trustee) of [[Wormleighton Manor]] in [[Warwickshire]] and a tenant at [[Althorp]] in [[Northamptonshire]] in 1486. His nephew, [[John Spencer (died 1522)|Sir John Spencer]] (died 1522), first made a living by trading in livestock and other commodities and eventually saved enough money to purchase both the Wormleighton and Althorp lands. Wormleighton was bought from [[William Cope (cofferer)|Sir William Cope]] in 1506, the manor house was completed in 1512.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Bernard |first=Burke |title=A genealogical and heraldic dictionary of the peerage and baronetage, the Privy Council, knightage and companionage |publisher=Harrison & Sons |year=1915 |location=London}}</ref> In 1508, Spencer also purchased the estate of Althorp with its moated house and several hundred acres of farmland.<ref name= 800years>H. Gawthorne/S. Mattingly/G. W. Shaeffer/M. Avery/B. Thomas/R. Barnard/M. Young, Revd. N.V. Knibbs/R. Horne: "The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Great Brington. 800&nbsp;Years of English History", published as "Brington Church: A Popular History" in 1989 and printed by Peerless Press.</ref> He had grazed sheep here from the 1480s. Impressed by the quality of the land, he eventually bought it and rebuilt the house in 1508.<ref name=spencerofalthorp>Sir John Spencer 1455–1522 {{cite web |url=http://www.spencerofalthorp.com/heritage/unique-family/sir_john_spencer |title=Sir John Spencer » Spencer of Althorp |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724063324/http://www.spencerofalthorp.com/heritage/unique-family/sir_john_spencer |archive-date=2013-07-24 }} (access date 20 July 2013)</ref> At that time, his estate and mansion in Warwickshire were considerably larger, and the house in Wormleighton was four times the size of Althorp.<ref name="spencerofalthorp"/> In 1511, he made further purchases to acquire the villages of [[Little Brington]] and [[Great Brington]] as well their parish church of [[St Mary the Virgin Church, Great Brington|St Mary the Virgin]], from [[Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset]].<ref name="800years"/> By putting down roots at Althorp, Spencer provided what was to become a home for the next 19 generations.<ref name="spencerofalthorp"/> In 1519, he was knighted by [[King Henry VIII]], died three years later and was buried in the new family chapel at Great Brington.<ref name="800years"/>

The Spencers rose to opulent prominence during the 16th century. [[John Spencer (died 1522)|Sir John Spencer]]'s grandson [[John Spencer (sheriff)|Sir John Spencer]] (d. 1586) was a [[Knight of the Shire]] for [[Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Northamptonshire]]. The Spencers' administration of their Northamptonshire and Warwickshire estates was admired and often emulated by gentlemen all over England. Sheep from their pastures were purchased for breeding and it is probable that the family's material success and production as [[Landed gentry|gentlemen farmers]] was rarely equalled in the century.<ref name="History of Parliament Online">Sir John Spencer, History of Parliament Online [http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/spencer-john-1549-1600] (access date 20 July 2013)</ref>

In the late 16th century, the latter [[John Spencer (sheriff)|Sir John Spencer]]'s grandson [[Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton|Sir Robert Spencer]] (1570–1627) represented [[Brackley (UK Parliament constituency)|Brackley]] in Parliament. In 1601, he was made a [[Knight of the Garter]], and created Baron Spencer, of Wormleighton, in the [[Peerage of England]] in 1603. During the reign of [[James VI and I|King James I]] he was reputed to be the richest man in England. The humble origins of the Spencers as sheep farmers once caused a heated exchange of words between wealthy yet then upstart Spencers with the more established [[Howards]] whose [[FitzAlan]] ancestors had been the [[Earls of Arundel]] since the 13th century. During a debate in the House of Peers, Lord Spencer was speaking about something that their great ancestors had done when suddenly the Earl of Arundel cut him off and said "My Lord, when these things you speak of were doing, your ancestors were keeping sheep". Lord Spencer then instantly replied, "When my ancestors as you say were keeping sheep, your ancestors were plotting treason."<ref>{{cite book
 | last = de Thoyras
 | first = Rapin 
 | title = The History of England
 | publisher = John and Paul Knapton (orig. French M. Paul)
 | series = book xviii
 | volume = 2
 | edition = 3
 | date = 1743
 | location = London, Ludgate Street
 | pages = 205
 | language = en
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=fX9cAAAAcAAJ&q=my+lord+while+my+ancestors+were+tending+sheep+yours+were+plotting+treason&pg=RA2-PA205
 | quote = in Parliament 1621: Lord Arundel, "My Lord, when these things you speak of were doing, your ancestors were keeping sheep." Spencer instantly replied,"when my ancestors (as you say) were keeping sheep, yours were plotting treason."}}</ref>

[[Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer]], was succeeded in his peerage and estates by his eldest surviving son, [[William Spencer, 2nd Baron Spencer of Wormleighton|William]]. He had previously represented Northamptonshire in Parliament. Two of his sons received additional peerages: His eldest son, [[Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland|Henry]] (1620–1643),  succeeded as 3rd Baron Spencer in 1636 and was created [[Earl of Sunderland]] in the Peerage of England in 1643. The younger son, [[Robert Spencer, 1st Viscount Teviot|Robert]] (1629–1694),  sat in the [[House of Commons of England|House of Commons]] from 1660 to 1679 and was created [[Viscount Teviot]] in the Peerage of Scotland in 1685.

The senior branch of the Spencers (later known as the Spencer-Churchill family) is currently represented by [[Jamie Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough]], direct descendant via the eldest male-line of [[John Spencer (died 1522)|Sir John Spencer]], who was knighted by [[King Henry VIII]] in 1519 while the cadet branch of the family, the Spencers of Althorp, who descend via the male-line from the younger son of the 3rd Earl Sunderland, is represented by [[Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer]].

===Spencer, later Spencer-Churchill===
[[Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland]], was [[Lord President of the Council]] from 1685 to 1688 and a [[Knight of the Garter]]. His son [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland|Charles, 3rd Earl of Sunderland]], was [[Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland]], [[Lord Privy Seal]], Secretary of State for both the Northern and Southern Departments, [[Lord President of the Council]], [[First Lord of the Treasury]] and a Knight of the Garter. His second wife was [[Lady Anne Churchill]], the second daughter of the distinguished soldier [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough]]. After Churchill's death in 1722, the Marlborough titles first passed to his eldest daughter [[Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough|Henrietta]] (1681–1733), then to Anne's second son, [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough|Charles]]. After the death of his elder brother, [[Robert Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland|Robert]], in 1729, Charles Spencer had already inherited the titles of 4th ''[[Earl of Sunderland]]'' and ''Baron Spencer'' of [[Wormleighton Manor|Wormleighton]] as well as the Spencer family estates. In 1733, he succeeded to the Churchill family estates and titles and became the 3rd [[Duke of Marlborough (title)|Duke of Marlborough]] as well as a Knight of the Garter, while the Spencer estates in [[Bedfordshire]], [[Northamptonshire]] (including [[Althorp]]) and [[Warwickshire]] passed to his younger brother [[John Spencer (British politician)|John]] (1708–1746).

In 1815, [[Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill|Francis Spencer]], the younger son of [[George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough]], was created [[Baron Churchill of Whichwood|Baron Churchill]], of [[Wychwood]] in the [[County of Oxford]], in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. In 1902, his grandson, the [[Victor Spencer, 1st Viscount Churchill|3rd Baron]], was created [[Viscount Churchill]], of Rolleston in the [[County of Leicester]], also in the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]].

In 1817, [[George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough|George Spencer, 5th Duke of Marlborough]], obtained permission to assume and bear the additional [[surname]] of Churchill in addition to his own surname of Spencer, in order to perpetuate the name of his illustrious great-great-grandfather. At the same time he received Royal Licence to quarter his paternal arms of Spencer with the [[coat of arms]] of Churchill.<ref name=Courtenay>Paul Courtenay, The Armorial Bearings of Sir Winston Churchill {{cite web |url=http://www.winstonchurchill.org/learn/reference/armorial-bearings-of-wsc |title=The Armorial Bearings of Sir Winston Churchill |access-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718222952/http://www.winstonchurchill.org/learn/reference/armorial-bearings-of-wsc |archive-date=2013-07-18 }} (access date 20 July 2013)</ref> The modern Dukes of Marlborough thus originally bore the surname "[[Spencer (surname)|Spencer]]". The [[double-barrelled surname]] of "Spencer-Churchill" as used since 1817 has remained in the family to this day, though some members have preferred to style themselves merely "Churchill". The 7th Duke of Marlborough was the paternal grandfather of [[Sir Winston Churchill]] (1874–1965), the [[British prime minister]]. The latter's widow, [[Clementine Churchill, Baroness Spencer-Churchill|Clementine]] (1885–1977), was created a [[life peer]]ess in her own right as Baroness Spencer-Churchill in 1965.

The family seat of the Dukes of Marlborough is [[Blenheim Palace]] in [[Woodstock, Oxfordshire|Woodstock]], [[Oxfordshire]]. Most Spencer-Churchills are interred in the churchyard of [[St Martin's Church, Bladon]], a short distance from the palace; only the Dukes and Duchesses are buried in the Blenheim Palace chapel.

=== Spencer, of Althorp House ===
[[Image:Johnspencer.jpg|thumb|[[John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer]], by [[Thomas Gainsborough]]]]
In 1761, [[John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer|John Spencer]] (1734–1783), a grandson of the [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland]], was created Baron Spencer of Althorp and Viscount Spencer in the [[Peerage of Great Britain]] by [[King George III]]. In 1765, he was further created Viscount Althorp and [[Earl Spencer (peerage)|Earl Spencer]], also in the Peerage of Great Britain. In 1755, he had privately married [[Georgiana Spencer, Countess Spencer|Margaret Poyntz]] (1737–1814) in his mother's dressing room at Althorp. They had five children, including the [[2nd Earl Spencer]], who later became [[Home Secretary]] from 1806 to 1807 and a [[Knight of the Garter]]. His older son, the [[John Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer|3rd Earl Spencer]] was [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] under [[Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey|Lord Grey]] and [[Lord Melbourne]] from 1830 to 1834. The 2nd Earl's youngest son [[Ignatius Spencer|George]] (1799–1864) converted from [[Anglicanism]] to the [[Roman Catholic]] Church, became a priest and took the name of ''Father Ignatius of St Paul''. He worked as a [[missionary]] and is a candidate for [[beatification]]. His older brother, who eventually became the [[Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer|4th Earl Spencer]], was a naval commander, courtier and [[Whig (British political faction)|Whig]] politician. He initially served in the [[Royal Navy]] and fought in the [[Napoleonic Wars]] and the [[Greek War of Independence]], eventually rising to the rank of [[Vice-Admiral]], and was made a Knight of the Garter in 1849. His son, the [[John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer|5th Earl Spencer]], who was known as the "Red Earl" because of his distinctive long red beard, was a close friend of prime minister [[William Ewart Gladstone]]. He served twice as [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland]] and was made a Knight of the Garter in 1864. He was succeeded in 1910 by his half-brother, the [[Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer|6th Earl Spencer]], who had been made Viscount Althorp, of Great Brington in the County of Northamptonshire, in the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]], in 1905 and served as [[Lord Chamberlain]] from 1905 to 1912. He became a Knight of the Garter in 1913, and was succeeded in the earldom and estates by his son, the [[Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer|7th Earl Spencer]], in 1922. His son, the [[John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer|8th Earl Spencer]], succeeded to the earldom and estates in 1975. He married [[Frances Ruth Roche]] in 1954 and had a daughter, [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Diana]], who [[Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer|married Prince Charles]] in 1981.

The family seat of the Earl Spencer is [[Althorp]] in [[Northamptonshire]], their traditional burial place is the parish church of [[St Mary the Virgin Church, Great Brington]]. The family estate includes significant land holdings in other parts of the country, including the village of [[North Creake]] in [[Norfolk]].

==Members of the family==

[[Image:The 1st Duke of Marlborough's genealogy.PNG|thumb|The Duke of Marlborough's genealogy. With no surviving male heir, his daughter Henrietta became the [[Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough|2nd Duchess of Marlborough]]. On her death in 1733, her nephew Charles (by [[Anne Churchill]]) became the [[3rd Duke of Marlborough]].]]

===Spencer Knights===
* [[John Spencer (died 1522)|Sir John Spencer, Kt.]] of Snitterfield & Wormleighton (1447–1522) married Isabel, daughter of Sir Walter Graunt, of Snitterfield
* [[William Spencer (Sheriff)|Sir William Spencer, Kt.]] of Wormleighton & Althorp (1483–1532) married Susan, daughter of Sir Richard Knightley, of Fawsley, Northants
* [[John Spencer (died 1586)|Sir John Spencer, Kt.]] of Wormleighton & Althorp (1524–1586) married Katherine, daughter of Sir Thomas Kitson, of Hengrove, Suffolk<ref>[http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/spencer-sir-john-1524-86 Member of Parliament Biography]</ref>
* [[John Spencer (died 1600)|Sir John Spencer, Kt.]] (1546–1600) married Mary, daughter of Sir [[Robert Catlyn]], of Berne, Dorset
* [[Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton|Sir Robert Spencer]] (1570–1627), was made ''1st Baron Spencer''

===Spencer Baronets===
{{main|Spencer Baronets}}
This now extinct line descended from two younger sons of [[John Spencer (died 1586)|Sir John Spencer]] (1524–1586) and his wife Katherine Kitson: 
* Their third son William was a landowner in [[Yarnton]], [[Oxfordshire]]; his son Thomas was created ''[[Spencer Baronets|Baronet of Yarnton]]'' in 1611. 
* Their fourth son Richard was the ambassador of [[James I of England|James I]] to the [[Dutch Republic]]; his son, John, was a landowner in [[Great Offley]], [[Hertfordshire]] and was created ''[[Spencer Baronets|Baronet of Offley]]'' in 1627.

===Barons Spencer===
* [[Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer]] (1570–1627), married Margaret, daughter of Sir [[Francis Willoughby (1547–1596)]], Kt.
* [[William Spencer, 2nd Baron Spencer]] (1591–1636), married Penelope, daughter of [[Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton]]
* [[Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland|Henry Spencer, 3rd Baron Spencer]] (1620–1643), royalist in the English Civil War, was made ''1st Earl of Sunderland''

===Earls of Sunderland===
{{main|Earl of Sunderland}}
* [[Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland]] (1620–1643), royalist in the English Civil War
* [[Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland]] (1640–1702), politician
* [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland]] (1675–1722), politician
*[[File:Johnspencer1708.jpg|thumb|Hon, [[John Spencer (British politician)|John Spencer]], (not to be confused with the 1st Earl Spencer), his only son, and their servant Caesar Shaw.<ref>{{cite web |title=Black Lives in England: Servants |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/the-slave-trade-and-abolition/sites-of-memory/black-lives-in-england/servants/ |website=Historic England |access-date=2 September 2020}}</ref>]][[Robert Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland]] (1701–1729)
* [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough|Charles Spencer, 5th Earl of Sunderland]] (1706–1758), succeeded his maternal aunt as ''3rd Duke of Marlborough''

===Dukes of Marlborough===
{{main|Duke of Marlborough (title)}}
[[File:MarlboroughCoatOfArms.jpg|thumb|right|Simple arms of the Spencer Dukes of Marlborough before they changed their name to "Spencer-Churchill" and took the modern arms.]]
[[File:Duke of Malborough COA.svg|thumb|right|Spencer-Churchill Duke of Malborough coat of arms]]
[[File:Sir Winston S Churchill.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Sir Winston Churchill]] (1874–1965), [[British prime minister]], grandson of the [[7th Duke of Marlborough]]]]

* [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough|Charles Spencer, 5th Earl of Sunderland, 3rd Duke of Marlborough]] (1706–1758), general and politician
* [[George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough]] (1739–1817), politician
* [[George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough]] (1766–1840), elder son of the 4th Duke, changed his surname from "Spencer" to "Spencer-Churchill"
* [[George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough]] (1793–1857), eldest son of the 5th Duke
* [[John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough]] (1822–1883), eldest son of the 6th Duke (and paternal grandfather of [[Sir Winston Churchill]])
* [[George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough]] (1844–1892), eldest son of the 7th Duke
* [[Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough]] (1871–1934), only son of the 8th Duke
* [[John Albert William Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough]] (1897–1972), elder son of the 9th Duke
* [[John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough|John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough]] (1926–2014), elder son of the 10th Duke
* [[Jamie Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough|Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough]] (born 1955), eldest son of the 11th Duke

===Barons and Viscounts Churchill===
{{main|Viscount Churchill}}
This line of the family descends from [[Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill|Francis Spencer]], younger son of the [[George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough|4th Duke of Marlborough]]. In 1902, his grandson, the [[Victor Spencer, 1st Viscount Churchill|3rd Baron]], was created ''Viscount Churchill''. Holders of these titles include
*[[Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill|Francis Almeric Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill]] (1779–1845)
*[[Victor Albert Francis Charles Spencer, 1st Viscount Churchill]] (1864–1934)

===Earls Spencer===
{{main|Earl Spencer (peerage)}}
[[File:Diana, Princess of Wales 1997 (2).jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Diana, Princess of Wales]] (1961–1997), [[British princess]], daughter of the [[John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer|8th Earl Spencer]]]]

* [[John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer]] (1734–1783), a grandson of the 3rd Earl of Sunderland through his third and youngest son
* [[George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer]] (1758–1834), politician and book collector
* [[John Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer]] (1782–1845), better known as Lord Althorp, politician
* [[Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer]] (1798–1857)
* [[John Poyntz Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer]] (1835–1910), politician
* [[Charles Robert Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer]] (1857–1922), great-grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales
* [[Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer]] (1892–1975), grandfather paternal of Diana, Princess of Wales
* [[John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer|(Edward) John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer]] (1924–1992), father of Diana, Princess of Wales
* [[Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer]] (born 1964), younger brother of Diana, Princess of Wales

===Notable marriages===
* Jane Spencer, daughter of Sir John Spencer of Hodnell, married [[William Cope (cofferer)|Sir William Cope]]
* Jane Spencer, daughter of Sir William Spencer (1483–1558) of Wormleighton and Althorp, married Sir [[Richard Brydges]], Kt.
* [[Alice Spencer]] (1559–1637), daughter of [[John Spencer (died 1586)|Sir John Spencer]] (1524–1586), married [[Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby]]. Their daughter [[Anne Stanley, Countess of Castlehaven|Anne]] (1580–1647) was heiress presumptive to the English throne upon the death of [[Elizabeth I]] according to the [[will of Henry VIII]] and the [[Third Succession Act]]. As Lady Derby, Alice was a noted patron of the arts and to whom poet [[Edmund Spenser]] represented the character "Amaryllis" in his eclogue Colin Clouts Come Home Againe in 1595 and dedicated his poem ''[[The Teares of the Muses]]'' in 1591. 
[[File:Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire as Diana.jpg|thumb|Georgiana as Cynthia (another name for the goddess [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]]) from [[Edmund Spenser|Spenser]]'s [[Faerie Queene]]. Painting by [[Maria Cosway]] circa 1782, [[Bakewell]], [[Chatsworth House]].]]
* [[Lady Georgiana Spencer]] (1757–1806), daughter of the [[John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer|1st Earl Spencer]], married [[William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire]]
* [[Diana Russell, Duchess of Bedford]] (born Lady Diana Spencer), daughter of the [[3rd Earl of Sunderland]], married in 1731 [[John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford]]
* [[Diana, Princess of Wales]] (born The Hon. Diana Spencer), daughter of the [[John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer|8th Earl Spencer]], [[Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer|married]] in 1981 [[Charles, Prince of Wales]] (later King Charles III), and had issue. They separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996.
* [[Clarissa Spencer-Churchill]], daughter of [[Jack Spencer-Churchill]] (younger brother of [[Sir Winston Churchill]]), married Sir [[Anthony Eden]], Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
* [[Sir Winston Churchill]] (1874–1965), [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]], grandson of the [[7th Duke of Marlborough]], married [[Clementine Hozier]] (1885–1977), later a [[life peer]]ess in her own right as ''Baroness Spencer-Churchill''.
* The [[9th Duke of Marlborough]] married [[Consuelo Vanderbilt]], member of the prominent American [[Vanderbilt family]].
* The [[11th Duke of Marlborough]] married in 1961 [[Athina Livanos]], former wife of [[Aristotle Onassis]]. In 1972 he married [[Rosita Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough|Countess Rosita Douglas-Stjernorp]], daughter of Swedish nobleman and diplomat Count Carl Douglas-Stjernorp. They were divorced in 2008. Her elder sister Elisabeth (b. 1940) is married to [[Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria]], heir presumptive to the Headship of the Royal House of Bavaria. As an artist, she is known professionally as Rosita Marlborough.
* [[Mary Spencer-Churchill]], daughter of [[Sir Winston Churchill]], married [[Christopher Soames, Baron Soames]], and was made a [[Order of the Garter|Lady of the Garter]] in 2005.
* The [[Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer|7th Earl Spencer]], when heir to the earldom and styled ''Viscount Althorp'',  married in 1919 Lady [[Cynthia Spencer, Countess Spencer|Cynthia Hamilton]], daughter of the [[James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn|3rd Duke of Abercorn]].
* The [[John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer|8th Earl Spencer]], when heir to the earldom and styled ''Viscount Althorp'', married in 1954 the Hon. [[Frances Ruth Roche]], daughter of the [[Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy|4th Baron Fermoy]].
*The [[Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer|9th Earl Spencer]], then Viscount Althorp, married [[Victoria Lockwood]], a British fashion model, in 1989. They divorced in 1997. He married his third wife [[Karen Gordon]], a Canadian philanthropist, in 2011.

===Other notable members===
* [[Lady Diana Beauclerk]] (née Spencer) (1734–1808), eldest child of the [[3rd Duke of Marlborough]], was artist and [[Lady of the Bedchamber]] to [[Queen Charlotte]] from 1762 to 1768.
* [[Lord Charles Spencer]] (1740–1820), second son of the [[3rd Duke of Marlborough]], was [[Postmaster General of the United Kingdom]] from 1801 to 1806 and [[Master of the Mint]] in 1806.
* [[William Robert Spencer]] (1769–1834), younger son of [[Lord Charles Spencer]], became a poet and wit.
* [[Aubrey George Spencer]] (1795–1872), son of the poet [[William Robert Spencer]], became the first [[Diocese of Newfoundland#Bishops|Bishop of Newfoundland]] in 1839, later Bishop of Jamaica. 
* [[George John Trevor Spencer]] (1799–1866), son of the poet [[William Robert Spencer]], became [[Diocese of Madras of the Church of South India|Bishop of Madras]] in 1837. 
* [[Ignatius Spencer|George Spencer]] (1799–1864), son of the 2nd Earl Spencer.<ref name=catencyc>{{cite web|title=The Hon. George Spencer|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14214b.htm|publisher=Catholic Encyclopedia|access-date=30 May 2013}}</ref> He was first an Anglican priest, converted to Catholicism to become a [[Roman Catholic]] priest as ''Father Ignatius'', worked as a [[missionary]] and is now a candidate for [[beatification]].
* General [[Augustus Spencer|Sir Augustus Almeric Spencer]], [[Most Honourable Order of the Bath|GCB]] (1807–1893), third son of [[Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill|Francis Almeric Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill]] (1779–1845).
* [[Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill]], publicly known as ''[[Lord Randolph Churchill]]'' (1849–1895), son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough, [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] and [[Leader of the House of Commons]], father of [[Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill]].
* The Reverend [[Canon (priest)|Canon]] [[Henry Spencer Stephenson]], [[Master's degree|M.A.]] (1871–1957), Chaplain to [[King George VI]] and [[Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref name="The Windsor Peerage for 1890-1894, 3rd Baron Churchill">{{cite book|last1=Walford|first1=Edward|title=The Windsor Peerage for 1890–1894|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ick-AAAAYAAJ&q=%22augusta+melita%22+spencer&pg=PA118|publisher=Chatto & Windus, Piccadilly, London, England|access-date=7 June 2014|page=118|year=1893|quote=See entry for Churchill, 3rd Baron}}</ref>
* [[Randolph Frederick Edward Spencer-Churchill]], publicly known as ''[[Randolph Churchill]]'' (1911–1968), son of [[Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill]].
* [[Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill]] (born 1929), maid of honour to [[Elizabeth II]] at her coronation in 1953.
* [[Lady Kitty Spencer]] (born 1990), daughter of [[Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer]]
* [[Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp]] (born 1994), son of Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer

== Members of the Order of the Garter ==
Many members of the Spencer family have also been knights or ladies of the [[Order of the Garter]]. The following is a list is of all Spencer members of this order, across all branches of the family, along with their year of investiture.

* 1601 – [[Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer]]
* 1687 – [[Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland]]
* 1719 – [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland]] 
* 1741 – [[Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough]]
* 1768 – [[George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough]]
* 1799 – [[George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer]] 
* 1849 – [[Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer]] 
* 1865 – [[John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer]]
* 1868 – [[John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough]] 
* 1902 – [[Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough]]
* 1913 – [[Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer]] 
* 1953 – [[Sir Winston Churchill]]
* 2005 – [[Mary Soames, Baroness Soames|Mary, Baroness Soames, née Spencer-Churchill]]

==Coat of arms==

{{multiple image
| direction         = horizontal
| align             = center
| width             = 150
| footer_align      = center
| footer            = '''Arms of the Spencer'''
| image1            = Blason Thomas Le Despencer.svg
| alt1              = Despenser Arms
| caption1          = Arms of the [[Baron le Despencer|Le Despencer]], Baron. Le Despencer, [[Earl of Winchester]]
| image2            = Spencer Coat of arms original with Seamews.jpg
| alt2              = Orig Spencer Arms
| caption2          = Original coat of arms granted to Spencer in 1504
| image3            = Spencer Arms.svg
| alt3              = Spencer Arms post 1595
| caption3          = The (De)Spencer Arms
}}

==Family tree==

{{tree chart/start|style=font-size:90%;line-height:100%;|align=center}}

{{tree chart|border=0|||||||||||||||||pri|
pri=[[File:Spencer Coat of arms original with Seamews.jpg|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|Spencer family}}</small>
}}

{{tree chart|border=0|||||||||||,|-|-|-|v|-|-|^|-|-|v|-|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart|border=0||||||||||alt||com||||yar||ofl|
alt=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|Line of <br />Althorp}}</small>|
com=[[File:Spencer (OfAshburyDevon) Arms.png|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|Spencer of<br />Spencercombe}}</small>|
yar=[[File:Spencer Coat of arms original with Seamews.jpg|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|Baronet<br />of Yarnton}}</small>|
ofl=[[File:Spencer Coat of arms original with Seamews.jpg|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|Baronet<br />of Offley}}</small>|}}

{{tree chart|border=0|||||||||||!|}}
{{tree chart|border=0||||||||||wor|
wor=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|[[Baron Spencer of Wormleighton]]}}</small>|}}

{{tree chart|border=0|||||||||||!|}}
{{tree chart|border=0||||||||||sun|
sun=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|[[Earls of Sunderland]]}}</small>|}}

{{tree chart|border=0|||||||,|-|-|-|^|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart|border=0||||||mar|||||spe|
mar=[[File:Arms of Winston Churchill.svg|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|[[Dukes of Marlborough]]}}</small>|
spe=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|[[Earls Spencer]]}}</small>|}}

{{tree chart|border=0||||,|-|-|^|-|-|v|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart|border=0|||chu||||win|vis|
chu=[[File:Coat of arms of the duke of Marlborough.png|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|Spencer-Churchill<br />[[Dukes of Marlborough]]}}</small>|
win=[[File:Coat of Arms of Winston Churchill.svg|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|Descent to <br />[[Winston Churchill]]}}</small>|
vis=[[File:Arms of Winston Churchill.svg|50px]]<br /><small>{{smallcaps|Spencer<br />[[Viscount Churchill|Barons and Visconts Churchill]]}}</small>|}}
{{tree chart/end}}

===Spencer origins===

{{hidden|Spencer origins family tree|{{tree chart/start| style=font-size:90%;line-height:100%;}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | | | | | | Tho | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Tho=Thomas Spencer<br />1366–?}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | | | | | | Hen |-|v|-| Isa | | | | | | | | | |Hen=Henry Spencer<br />1392–1476|Isa=Isabel Lincoln}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|^|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| }}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | Joh | | Tho | | | | | Wil | | Nic | | | | | |Joh=John Spencer<br />1420–1486|Tho=Thomas Spencer|Wil=William Spencer|Nic=Nicholas Spencer}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | |!| | | |:| | | | | | |!| | | | }} {{tree chart | Eli |-|v|-| Wil | | Des | | | | | Joh | | |Eli=Elizabeth Empson|Wil=William Spencer<br />?–1498|Des=Spencer of Hodnell|Joh=Sir John Spencer of Snitterfield}}
{{tree chart | | |,|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | }}
{{tree chart | | Joh |-|v|-| Isa | | Jan |-|-| Ste | | | | | | | Tho | | |Joh=Sir John Spencer<br />1447–1522|Isa=Isabel Graunt|Jan=Jane Spencer|Ste=Stephen Cope|Tho=Thomas Spencer}}
{{tree chart | | |,|-|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | | | |:| | }}
{{tree chart | | Ant | | | Jan |-|-| Ric | | Wil |-|v|-| Sus | | Des | | | |Ant=Anthony Spencer|Jan=Jane Spencer|Ric=Richard Knightley|Wil=Sir William Spencer<br />1496–1532|Sus=Susan Knightley|Des=Spencer of Badby (emigrated to America in XVII century) }}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|^|-|-|-|.| | }}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | | | | Kat |-|v|-| Joh | | | | | Des | | |Kat=Katherine Kitson|Joh=Sir John Spencer<br />1524–1586|Des=altre 5 figlie}}
{{tree chart | | |,|-|v|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|.| | | }}
{{tree chart | | Ann |!| Eli |-| Geo | | | Tho |-| Ali |-|-| Fer | |!| | Joh |~|~|V|~|~| Mar | |Ann=Anne, lady Mounteagle<br />?–1618|Eli=Elizabeth, lady Hunsdon<br />1552–1618|Geo=George Carey, II barone Hunsdon<br />1547–1603|Tho=Thomas Egerton<br />1540–1617|Ali=Alice Spencer<br />1559–1637|Fer=[[Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby]]<br />1559–1594|Joh=Sir John Spencer<br />1549–1600|Mar=Mary Catlin}}
{{tree chart | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | |:| |}}
{{tree chart | | | | Ric |-|v|-| Hel | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Wil | | | | | |:| | |Ric=Sir Richard Spencer<br />1559–1624|Hel=Helen Elinora Brocket|Wil=Sir William Spencer<br />1555–1609}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | |:| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |:| | | | | | |:| |}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | Des | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | De2 | | | | | Con | | |Des='''Spencer of Offley''' (extinct in 1699)|De2='''Spencer of Yarnton''' (extinct in 1741)|Con='''[[Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton|Robert Spencer, I Baron Spencer of Wormleighton]]<br /> From here descends Spencer, [[Baron Spencer of Wormleighton]], [[earl of Sunderland]]'''}}
{{tree chart/end}}
|headerstyle=background:#ccccff|bodystyle=text-align:center}}

===Barons Spencer of Wormleighton and Earls of Sunderland===

{{hidden|Spencer Barons of Wormleighton and Earls of Sunderland family tree|{{tree chart/start| style=font-size:90%;line-height:100%;}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Rob |-|v|-| Mar | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Rob=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|30px]]<br />[[Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton|Robert Spencer, I Baron Spencer of Wormleighton]]<br />[[File:Sir-Robert-Spencer-513x800.jpg|75px]]<br />1570–1627|Mar=[[File:Blason Robert de Willoughby (selon Gelre).svg|75px]]<br />'''Margaret Willoughby'''<br />1560–1597}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | | Joh | | |!| | | Mar | | | | | | Ric | | Edw | | | | | | | | | |Joh=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''John Spencer'''<br />1590–1610 a [[Blois]]|Mar=[[File:Arms of Diana, Princess of Wales (1996-1997).svg|75px]]<br />'''Mary Spencer'''<br />1588–1592|Ric=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Richard Spencer''' '''Member of Parliament'''<br />1593–1661|Edw=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Edward Spencer''' '''Member of Parliament'''<br />1595–1656}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | Wil |-|-|v|-| Pen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Wil=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|30px]]<br />[[William Spencer, 2nd Baron Spencer of Wormleighton|William Spencer, II Baron Spencer of Wormleighton]]<br />[[File:2nd Baron Spencer of Wormleighton.jpg|75px]]<br />1591–1636|Pen=[[File:Southampton motto (Resized).gif|30px]]<br />'''Penelope Wriothesley'''<br />[[File:Penelope wriothesley by loc.jpg|75px]]<br />1598–1667}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|^|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart| He1 |-|-| El1 | | |!| | Hen |-| Ali | | Wil |-| Eli | | Mar |-| Ant | | Rob |-| Jan | | | |He1=[[File:Thomas Howard Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Henry Howard'''<br /> m.1663|El1=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Elizabeth Spencer'''<br />1618–1672|Hen=[[File:Moore family crest.gif|75px]]<br />'''Henry Moore, 1st Earl of Drogheda'''<br />1628–1675|Ali=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Alice Spencer'''<br />1625–1675|Wil=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''William Spencer of Ashton'''<br />1625–1688|Eli=<br />'''Elizabeth Gerard'''|Mar=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Margaret Spencer'''<br />1627–1693|Ant=[[File:Earl of Shaftesbury.svg|30px]]<br />[[Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury]]<br />[[File:Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury.jpg|75px]]<br />1621–1683|Rob=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Robert Spencer, visconte Teviot'''<br />1629–1694|Jan=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Jane Spencer of Yarnton'''<br />1657–1689}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | Hen |-|-|v|-|-| Dor | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Hen=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|30px]]<br />[[Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland]]<br />[[File:Henryspencer1620.jpg|75px]]<br />1620–1643|Dor=[[File:Sydney.svg|30px]]<br />[[Dorothy Spencer, Countess of Sunderland|Dorothy Sidney]]<br />[[File:Dorothy Countess of Sunderland.jpg|75px]]<br />1617–1684}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | Geo |-|-| Dor | | | | | | Pen | | Rob |-|v|-| Ann | | | | | | | |Geo=[[File:Savile arms.gif|30px]]<br />[[George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax]]<br />[[File:George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax.jpg|75px]]<br />1633–1695|Dor=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|30px]]<br />'''Dorothy Spencer'''<br />[[File:Dorothyhalifax.jpg|75px]]<br />1640–1670|Pen=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Penelope Spencer'''<br />1644–1645|Rob=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|30px]]<br />[[Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland]]<br />[[File:Lord sunderland.jpg|75px]]<br />1641–1702|Ann=[[File:Digby-Crest.jpg|30px]]<br />[[Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (died 1715)|Anne Digby]]<br />[[File:Anne Digby Countess of Sunderland.jpg|75px]]<br />1646–1715}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | Rob | | Ann |-| Jam | | | | Isa | | Eli |-| Don | |!| |Rob=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Robert Spencer'''<br />1666–1688|Ann=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Anne Spencer'''<br />1667–1690|Jam=[[File:Douglas hamiltonCoA.png|30px]]<br />[[James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton]]<br />[[File:4thDukeOfHamilton.jpg|75px]]<br />1658–1712|Isa=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Isabella Spencer'''<br />1668–1684|Eli=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Elizabeth Spencer'''<br />1671–1704|Don=[[File:Arms of McCarthy.svg|75px]]<br />'''Donough MacCarthy, IV Earl of Clancarty'''<br />1668–1734}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|'| | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | Ann |-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| Cha |-|-|-|-|v|-| Ara | | |Ann=[[File:Coat of arms of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough.svg|30px]]<br />[[Anne Churchill]]<br />[[File:Anne Churchill, Countess of Sunderland by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.jpg|75px]]<br />1683–1716|Cha=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|30px]]<br />[[Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland]]<br />[[File:Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland.jpg|75px]]<br />1675–1722|Ara=[[File:Cavendish arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Arabella Cavendish'''<br />1673–1698}}
{{tree chart| | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|^|-|-|v|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | |)|-|-|.| | |!| | | | }}
{{tree chart| | |!| | | |!| | | | | | |!| | |!| | | |!| | Jud | |!| | Fra |-| Hen | |Jud=[[File:Tichborne-coat of arms.gif|75px]]<br />'''Judith Tichborne'''<br />1702–1749|Fra=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Frances Spencer'''<br />1696–1742|Hen=[[File:Earl of Carlisle COA.svg|75px]]<br />[[Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle]]<br />1694–1758}}
{{tree chart| | Rob | | Ann |-| Wil | |!| | |!| | | |!| | |,|-|-|'| |Rob=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />[[Robert Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland]]<br />1701–1729|Ann=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''Anne Spencer'''<br />1702–1769|Wil=[[File:Bateman-wales.gif|30px]]<br />'''William Bateman, I visconte Bateman'''<br />[[File:Portrait of William 1st Viscount Bateman.jpg|75px]]<br />1695–1744|}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|'| | |!| | | |!| | |!| | | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | | |!| | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|'| | | |!| | |`|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | Cha | | Jo1 | | | | Joh |-| Dia | | | | No1 | | No2 | | Wil | |Cha=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|30px]]<br />[[Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough]]<br />[[File:3rd duke of marlborough.jpg|75px]]<br />1706–1758|Jo1=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|30px]]<br />[[John Spencer (British politician)|John Spencer]]<br />[[File:Johnspencer1708.jpg|75px]]<br />1708–1746|Joh=[[File:Russell arms.svg|30px]]<br />[[John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford]]<br />[[File:4thDukeOfBedford.jpg|75px]]<br />1710–1771|Dia=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|30px]]<br />[[Diana Spencer (1710–1735)|Diana Spencer]]<br />[[File:AnneChurchillanddaughter.JPG|75px]]<br />1710–1735|No1=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''NN'''<br />1718–1718|No2=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''NN'''<br />1719–1719<br />|Wil=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />'''William Spencer'''<br />1720–1722}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | |:| | | |:| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | | De1 | | De2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |De1=[[File:Arms of Winston Churchill.svg|75px]]<br />''Spencer-Churchill''<br />''[[Dukes of Marlborough]]''|De2=[[File:Spencer Arms.svg|75px]]<br />''[[Earls Spencer]]''}}
{{tree chart/end}}
|headerstyle=background:#ccccff|bodystyle=text-align:center}}

===Dukes of Marlborough===

{{transcluded section|part=yes|Duke of Marlborough (title)}}
{{trim|{{#section::Duke of Marlborough (title)|FamilyTree}}}}

{{transcluded section|part=yes|Descendants of Winston Churchill}}
{{trim|{{#section::Descendants of Winston Churchill|FamilyTree}}}}

===Earls Spencer===

For the Earls Spencer from John Spencer to present see: [[Earl Spencer (peerage)#Family Tree|Family Tree of the Earls Spencer]].

===Barons and Viscounts Churchill===

{{transcluded section|part=yes|Baron Churchill (1815 creation)}}
{{trim|{{#section::Baron Churchill (1815 creation)|FamilyTree}}}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*Round, J.H. (1901) ''Studies in Peerage and Family History,'' A. Constable and Company, London.

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090806182522/http://www.althorp.com/downloads/familytree.pdf Spencer Family Tree, Althorp.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110209092128/http://sixthromeo.com/spencerdynasty.html Origins of the Spencer family]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050309161839/http://www.hierarchypedia.com/~hierarch/wiki/index.php/Spencer_family Family tree and information] – Archived link
* http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~djmurphy/conn/washington.htm
* [http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/spencerarms.htm The Heraldry of the Early Spencers]
* [https://europeanheraldry.org/united-kingdom/families/families-s/house-spencer/ Heraldry of the House of Spencer]

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[[Category:Spencer family| ]]
[[Category:Noble families of the United Kingdom]]