The Cholmondeley family descends from William le Belward (or de Belward), the feudal lord of the barony of Malpas in Cheshire who acquired the lordship of "
Calmundelai" (as it was spelt in the
Domesday Book) through his wife Beatrix, daughter of
Hugh de Kevelioc, 5th Earl of Chester. Their eldest son David le Belward inherited the feudal barony of Malpas and was the ancestor of the
Egerton family. The second son, Robert le Belward, became feudal lord of the barony of Cholmondeley, which he passed to his son Sir Hugh de Cholmondeley (or "Chelmundeleih"), who adopted the new surname. His lineal descendant was
Sir Hugh Cholmondeley (1513–1596), knighted by King
Henry VIII. His eldest son was
Robert Cholmondeley, 1st Earl of Leinster, while his youngest son Thomas was the ancestor of the
Barons Delamere. Another son, his namesake Hugh, was the father of Robert Cholmondeley. He succeeded to the estates of his uncle Lord Leinster and was created
Viscount Cholmondeley, of Kells in the County of Meath, in the
Peerage of Ireland in 1661. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Viscount. He was a supporter of
King William III and
Queen Mary II and also served as
Comptroller of the Household and as
Treasurer of the Household. In 1689 he was created
Baron Cholmondeley, of Nantwich in the County of Chester, in the
Peerage of England, with remainder to his younger brother George Cholmondeley. In 1706 he was further honoured when he was made
Viscount Malpas, in the County of Chester, and
Earl of Cholmondeley, in the County of Chester, also in the Peerage of England and with the same special remainders. On his death the titles passed to his son, the third Earl. He was a politician and held office as
Lord Privy Seal and
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Marquess. He represented
Castle Rising in the
House of Commons but in 1821 he was summoned to the
House of Lords through a
writ of acceleration in his father's junior title of Baron Newburgh. Lord Cholmondeley was childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the third Marquess. He sat as Member of Parliament for Castle Rising and
South Hampshire. As he outlived most of his children, including the elder son, the third Marquess was succeeded in his titles by his grandson. ==Lord Great Chamberlain==