Leveson-Gower family


Leveson-Gower, also Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, is the name of a historically prominent British noble family. Over time, several members of the Leveson-Gower family were made knights, baronets and peers. Hereditary titles held by the family include the dukedom of Sutherland, as well as the
ancient earldom of Sutherland and the earldom of Granville. Several other members of the family have also risen to prominence.

Name

Leveson-Gower is a well-known example of an English surname with counterintuitive pronunciation.
The name Leveson is a patronymic from Louis or Lewis. In early modern times it was often rendered Luson: for example, in 1588, Elizabeth I received a letter from the King of Denmark concerning the depredations of Walter Leveson of Lilleshall Abbey, in which he is consistently referred to as Sir Walter Luson.
Gower is a locational name, possibly derived from a place so-named in Kent, or from the Gower Peninsula in southern Wales. It could also refer to one of the various towns named Gouy in northern France. The name of Gower Street, London is pronounced despite its being named after Gertrude Leveson-Gower by her husband, John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.
The hyphen is used by only some members of the family.

Titles in the family

  • Gower baronetcy, of Sittenham
  • Baron Gower
  • Viscount Trentham
  • Earl Gower
  • Earl Granville
  • Earl of Sutherland
  • Marquess of Stafford
  • Duke of Sutherland

    Other notable members

  • Frederick Neville Sutherland Leveson-Gower, politician
  • H. D. G. Leveson Gower, English cricketer
  • Frederick Leveson-Gower, English cricketer
  • George Leveson-Gower, politician
  • Lord Ronald Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, politician
  • Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville, Whig statesman and diplomat
  • *Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville, Liberal politician and foreign minister
  • **Granville Leveson-Gower, 3rd Earl Granville, diplomat
  • John Leveson-Gower, Rear Admiral and politician