   the howard family is an english aristocratic family founded by john howard who was created duke of norfolk (3rd creation) by plantagenet monarch richard iii of england in 1483. however, john was also the eldest (although maternal) grandson of the 1st duke of 1st creation. the howards have been part of the peerage since the 15th century and remain the premier dukes of the realm in the peerage of england, acting as earl marshal of england. after the english reformation many howards remained steadfast in their catholic faith as the most high profile recusant family; two members, philip howard, 20th earl of arundel, and william howard, 1st viscount stafford, are regarded as martyrs: a saint and a blessed respectively. the senior line of the house, as well as holding the dukedom of norfolk, are also earl of arundel, earl of surrey and earl of norfolk, as well as holding six baronies. the arundel title was inherited in 1580, when the howards became the genealogical successors to the paternally extinct fitzalans, ancient kin to the stuarts, dating back to when the family first arrived in great britain from brittany. thomas howard, the 4th duke of norfolk's first wife was mary fitzalan, who after the death of her brother henry in 1556 became heiress to the arundel estates of her father henry fitzalan, 19th earl of arundel. her son was the above philip howard, 20th earl of arundel. it is from this marriage that
History_of_Roman_Catholicism_in_England Howard_family_(English_aristocracy) Political_families_of_the_United_Kingdom Roman_Catholic_families