SPENCER-CHURCHILL, Orlando Charles Godolphin (Earl of Sunderland), b. 2026

[bx...@yahoo.com]

The Marchioness of Blandford, wife of the Marquess of Blandford, gave birth to a son and heir, Orlando Charles Godolphin SPENCER-CHURCHILL on April 15, 2026.  

The announcement was made in The Telegraph, today, July 31st, 2026

The Marquess of Blandford (George John Godolphin SPENCER-CHURCHILL) was born in 1992.  He is the eldest son and heir of the present (12th) Duke of Marlborough.

The Marquess married Camilla Thorp in a spectacular  2018 wedding.  

The infant, styled Earl of Sunderland, is now second in the line of succession to his grandfather's dukedom and associated titles, behind his father.

The Marquess and Marchioness are also the parents of 2 daughters, Lady Olympia (b. 2020) and Lady Leonora (b. 2024).

Here is the link to the announcement in The Telegraph:

https://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/marketplace/advert/spencer-churchill-notices_67742

Brooke

[Richard R]

Thanks Brooke.

Just to clarify that, in Britain, the online announcement appeared online at midnight, and in print in the Telegraph of 31 July 2026:

SPENCER-CHURCHILL  On 15th April 2026, to Marquis and Marchioness of Blandford, a son, Orlando Charles Godolphin, Earl of Sunderland, a brother for Lady Olympia and Lady Leonora.

[bx...@yahoo.com]

Thanks, Richard, for the clarifications on this and the Garnock post I also made.

Brooke

[malcolm davies]

Congratulations on the birth of the second heir.Note-the earldom of Sunderland has descended from father to son since the title was created and it of course include all dukes of Marlborough from the 3rd Duke onwards.

[Paul Theroff]

"-the earldom of Sunderland has descended from father to son since the title was created"

Weren't the 4th and 5th earls brothers?

[bx...@yahoo.com]

Yes,  Robert (1701-1729), the 4th Earl, and Charles (1706-1756), the 5th Earl,  were brothers, sons of the 3rd Earl.  Charles later  succeeded his aunt, Henrietta GODOLPHIN, the 2nd Duchess of Marlborough, and became the 3rd Duke.

On a personal note, I had always been curious about the "Godolphin" name, and now I understand where it came from.

Brooke

[Paul Theroff]

"...I had always been curious about the "Godolphin" name..."


I was exposed to the Godlophins at an early age. They were key characters in the 1969 BBC show, "The First Churchills".

There is an excellent book about them called "The Godolphins", by F G Marsh. You can read it online here:

https://archive.org/details/godolphins00mars

At any rate, here is a genealogy:

 

William Godolphin, of Godolphin (ca 1480-1570); m.Margaret Glinne (1490-    )

1.Sir William, of Godolphin (ca 1510-1575); m. Blanche Langden (bur 1583)

1.1.Margaret (ca 1537-    ); m.1^st Sir Robert Verney; m.2^nd Sir Robert Dennis (d.1592)

1.2.Grace (ca 1538-    ); m.ca 1562 Sir John Sydenham

2.Thomas (ca 1512-    ); m.1^st ca 1533 Katherine Bonython; m.2^nd Mrs Margaret Larder, née Granville [Grenvil]

[by 1^st m.]:

2.1.Sir Francis, of Godolphin (ca 1534-1608); m.1^st 29 Jun 1562 Margaret Killigrew; m.2^nd Mrs Alice Glanvile, née Skerittà 3 sons, 6 daus by 1^st m., of whom:

2.1.1.Sir William, of Godolphin (ca 1565-1613); m.ca 1604 Thomasine Sidney (bur 24 Apr 1632)

2.1.1.1.Sir Francis, of Godolphin (25 Dec 1605-22 Mar 1667); m.before 1635 [or ca 1639, per Marsh] Dorothy Berkeley (bur 23 Nov 1668) à 16 children, of whom:

2.1.1.1.1.Sir William, of Godolphin, cr Baronet 1661 (ca 1640-17 Aug 1710 [27 Aug 1710, per Marsh])

2.1.1.1.2.Francis (ca 1642-1675)

2.1.1.1.3.Sidney, cr 1684 Baron Godolphin of Rialton, cr 1706 Earl of Godolphin and Viscount Rialton (bap 15 Jun 1645-15 Sep 1712); m.16 May 1675 Margaret Blagge (2 Aug 1652-9 Sep 1678)

2.1.1.1.3.1.Francis (3 Sep 1678-17 Jan 1766), 2^nd Earl of Godolphin, cr 1735 Baron Godolphin of Helston, with remainder after his own issue male to those of his uncle Henry; m.1698 Henrietta Churchill, 2^nd Duchess of Marlborough (19 Jul 1681-24 Oct 1733)

2.1.1.1.3.1.1.William, Marquess of Blandford (1700-Oxford 24 Aug 1731); m.25 Apr 1729 Maria Catherina de Jong (d.Sheen 7 Sep 1779)

2.1.1.1.3.1.2.Henry, d.young

2.1.1.1.3.1.3.Henrietta (d.17 Jul 1776); m.2 Apr 1717 Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Duke of Newcastle-under-Line (1 Jul 1693-London 17 Nov 1768)

2.1.1.1.3.1.4.Margaret, d.young

2.1.1.1.3.1.5.Mary (d.3 Aug 1764); m.London 26 Jun 1740 Thomas Osborne, 4^th Duke of Leeds (6 Nov 1713-London 23 Mar 1789); Mary’s biological father may have been William Congreve

2.1.1.1.4.Rev. Henry (15 Aug 1648-29 Jan 1733); m.ca 1703 Mary Godolphin

2.1.1.1.4.1.Henry (1705-31 Mar 1722)

2.1.1.1.4.2.Francis, 2^nd Lord Godolphin of Helston (bap 2 Nov 1706-25 May 1785); m.1^st 18 Feb 1734 Lady Barbara Bentinck (20 Oct 1709-13 Apr 1736); m.2^nd 28 May 1747 Lady Anne Fitzwilliam (22 Aug 1722-1805)

2.1.1.1.4.3.Mary (ca 1707-    ); m.ca 1730 William Owen, of Porkington à ancestors of the Ormsby-Gores, who inherited some Godolphin properties

2.1.1.1.5.Charles (ca 1651-10 Jul 1720); m.1687 Elizabeth Godolphin (d.29 Jul 1726)

2.1.1.1.5.1.William (bap 25 Mar 1694-May 1694)

2.1.1.1.5.2.Anne (bap 12 Aug 1688-8 Dec 1690)

2.1.1.1.6.Edward (1659-1676)

2.1.1.1.7.Elizabeth (bap 8 Feb 1635-1707); m.1650 Sir Arthur Northcote, 2^nd Bt. (bap 25 Mar 1628-1688)

2.1.1.1.8.Jael (bap 5 Jun 1647-14 Apr 1730); m.5 Jan 1665 Edward Boscawen (bap 21 Nov 1628-28 Oct 1685)

2.1.1.1.9.Frances (ca 1649-d.before 1707)

2.1.1.1.10.Penelope, d.1697

2.1.1.1.11.Margaret (ca 1654-bur 24 Feb 1672)

2.1.1.1.12.Katherine, d.1679

2.1.1.1.13.Anne, d.1679

2.1.1.2.Sidney (bap 15 Jan 1610- k.a. at Chagford, bur 10 Feb 1642); Burke’s Extinct Peerage says it was this Sidney whose dau Mary m.Rev. Henry Godolphin, but that is incorrect

2.1.1.3.William

2.1.1.4.Penelope (1607-1669); m.6 Sep 1627 Charles Berkeley, 2^nd Viscount Fitzhardinge (14 Dec 1599-12 Jun 1668)

2.1.2.John (ca 1577-1619); m.ca 1604 Judith Ameredith

2.1.2.1.Sir William, of Spargor (1605-1663); m.1^st 17 Oct 1626 Ruth Lambe (ca 1609-    ); m.2^nd 25 Mar 1658 Grace Barratt (dsp 11 Oct 1663)

2.1.2.1.1.Francis, of Spargor and Coulston (1629-1670); m.1^st ca 1658 Elizabeth Gayer (d.27 Jan 1668); m.2^nd Elizabeth, née Johnson, widow of Sir Charles Mordaunt, 4^th Bt.; issue of 1^st m.:

2.1.2.1.1.1.William (ca 1659-d.ca 9 Nov 1682 of wounds received in a duel)

2.1.2.1.1.2.Francis, of Spargor (ca 1661-11 Jun 1702); m.1687 Elizabeth (1655-    ), dau of Sir Beaumont Dixie, Bt.

2.1.2.1.1.2.1.William, o Coulston (28 Feb 1695-4 Sep 1781)

2.1.2.1.1.2.2.Francis (18 Oct 1699-    )

2.1.2.1.1.2.3.Elizabeth (10 Oct 1688-    ); m.Mar 1717 James Burslem (bap 5 Feb 1695-    )

2.1.2.1.1.2.4.Barbara (Oct 1689-bur 8 Jun 1762); m.ca 1723 Rev. John Mapletoft

2.1.2.1.1.2.5.Mary (19 Nov 1693-    ); m.23 Nov 1726 Richard Chaloner Cobbe

2.1.2.1.1.3.Elizabeth (bap 5 Nov 1663-29 Jul 1726); m.1687 Charles Godolphin (above)

2.1.2.1.2.William (bap 29 Sep 1631-bur 1632)

2.1.2.1.3.Sir William, of Spargor (bap 2 Feb 1635-11 Jul 1696)

2.1.2.1.4.Sir John (bap 24 Apr 1636-1679); m.Frances Byne

2.1.2.1.4.1.Elizabeth, d.1684

2.1.2.1.5.Bernard (bap 4 Feb 1638-    )

2.1.2.1.6.Ruth (bap 18 Aug 1633-    ); m. ___ Greatorex

2.1.2.1.7.Anne (bap 12 Jan 1641-    )

2.1.2.2.Thomas

2.1.2.3.John (29 Nov 1617-4 Apr 1678); m.1^st 10 May 1640 Mrs Honour Denys, née Molesworth (bur 15 May 1642); m.2^nd Mary Tregose; m.3^rd NN; m.4^th 7 Jul 1674 Rebecca Butler (d.4 Jun 1697); besides the ones listed below, Marsh names 7 other children of John G who d.young

2.1.2.3.1.[ex 1] Margaret (bap 8 Jul 1641-bur 31 Oct 1641)

2.1.2.3.2.[ex 2] Sidney (bap 12 Jan 1652-22 Sep 1732); m.ca 1673 Susanna Tanat (d.10 Feb 1724)

2.1.2.3.2.1.Tanat (ca 1675-d. a minor in Flanders)

2.1.2.3.2.2.Margaret (1676-6 Oct 1766)

2.1.2.3.2.3.Mary (ca 1678-30 Jun 1743); m.Rev. Henry Godolphin (above)

2.1.2.3.2.4.Ellen (ca 1680-    )

2.1.2.3.2.5.Penelope (ca 1682-    ); m.1^st 1709 Francis Hoblyn; m.2^nd 5 Sep 1714 Sir William Pendarves (d.12 Mar 1726)

2.1.2.3.2.6.Frances, d.an infant

2.1.2.3.3.[ex 4] Rebecca (1676-    ); m.24 Nov 1699 Samuel Edwards

2.1.2.4.Elizabeth (ca 1606-    ); m.Francis Bluet

2.1.2.5.Margaret (ca 1608-    ); m.15 Oct 1638 William Paynter

2.1.2.6.Joan (ca 1619-    ); m.1 Apr 1638 William Peere; Marsh notes that she is not named in her father’s will, but that her parentage clearly listed in her marriage registry entry

2.1.3.Sir Francis (ca 1578-1637/40); m.8 May 1622 Katherine Trevanion

2.1.4.Elizabeth (ca 1563- fl 1613)

2.1.5.Katherine (ca 1564- fl 1613)

2.1.6.Blanche, bur 11 Dec 1597; m.30 Dec 1583 George Kekewich

2.1.7.Jane; m.28 Oct 1593 James Basset, of Tehidy (1566-1603)

?2.1.8.Thomasine; Burke’s Extinct Peerage, sub Godolphin, has here a dau named Thomasin, said to have m. George Carew, Earl of Totnes; Marsh also has her and this marriage, which he says happened on 7 Jul 1588; however, no such marriage is mentioned in the Burke’s, sub Carew, nor in Complete Peerage, sub Totnes; per Cokayne, Totnes was married  from 1580 until his death in 1629 to Joyce Clopton; a Wikipedia article about a different George Carew, this one dying in 1612, says that it was he who m. Thomasine

2.1.9.Ursula; m.John Crudge [Creyde, per Burke’s]

2.2.William, of Treveneage (ca 1540-bur 21 Oct 1611); m.11 Dec 1587 Jane Gaverigan

2.2.1.Francis, of Treveneage (1589-ca 1653); m.18 Nov 1616 Ann, dau of Carew of Antony

2.2.1.1.Francis, of Crowan, d.ca 1692

2.2.1.2.Lovedary (1618-    )

2.2.1.3.Katherine (Sep 1620-bur 13 Mar 1662); m.1637 John St.Aubyn, of Clowance; parents of 1^st St.Aubyn Bt.

2.3.Anne (ca 1539-    ); m.1564 Sir John Arundell of Traverne; note that Burke’s shows her as dau of William B and Blanche Langden

[by 2^nd m.]:

2.4.Gentle (ca 1566-    ); m.ca 1610 Cicely Southcot

2.4.1.Gentle (Gentle (bap 21 Jun 1614-    ); m.1^st 14 Jan 1644 Ann Jole; m.2^nd 17 May 1645 Martha Hooper

2.4.1.1.Gentle (ca 1646-    ); m.1^st 18 Nov 1672 Johan Bon (bur 18 Feb 1681); m.2^nd 31 Jan 1682 Mary Groot

2.4.1.1.1.[ex 1] Robert (bap 29 Oct 1673-bur 10 Jun 1675)

2.4.1.1.2.[ex 1] Joan (bap 27 Sep 1674-    )

2.4.1.1.3.[ex 2] Mary (bap 24 Aug 1683-    )

2.4.2.William

2.5.Agnes; m.Thomas Peter

2.6.dau; m. ___ Furseman

3.Elizabeth (ca 1517-    ); m.John Langdon (1508-    ), brother of Elizabeth’s sister-in-law

4.Honor (ca 1519-    ); m.William Meliton