Baron Beaumont is an ancient title in the Peerage of England, created in 1309 for a younger branch of the French counts of de Brienne family. The sixth Baron Beaumont was created Viscount Beaumont (the first creation of this rank in England) in 1432; after the death of his son the 2nd Viscount both titles fell into abeyance.
In 1840 the abeyance of the barony was terminated in favour of Miles Thomas Stapleton who was called to the peerage as the 8th Baron Beaumont. His paternal great-great-grandfather Nicholas Errington (d.1716), of Pont-Eland, Northumberland, had adopted the surname and arms of Stapleton having inherited the manor of Carlton from his childless uncle Miles Stapleton, 1st Baronet.[1]
The 8th Baron was succeeded by his sons Henry and Miles, the 9th and 10th Barons respectively. The barony was briefly in abeyance again following the death of the 10th Baron and was called out in favour of his daughter, Mona, in 1896. The 11th Baroness Beaumont married Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Glossop in 1914. Their eldest son Miles succeeded his mother as 12th Baron Beaumont in 1971, his father as 4th Baron Howard of Glossop in 1972 and, in 1975, his second cousin once removed Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk as 17th Duke of Norfolk. The Beaumont Barony is currently (as of 2014) held by the 18th Duke of Norfolk.
The Beaumont title descends to "heirs of the body", while the Dukedom of Norfolk descends to "heirs male". The titles may therefore eventually separate.
The Stapleton family's seat was Carlton Towers (built upon their ancient manor of Carlton) which in 1971 was inherited by the 17th Duke of Norfolk from his mother Mona Stapleton, 11th Baroness Beaumont.