The title of Earl Ferrers was created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1711 for Sir Robert Shirley . it is the senior Earldom in the Peerage of Great Britain.

The Earl holds the subsidiary title of Viscount Tamworth (1711), which is used as a courtesy title by heirs-apparent to the Earldom.

The fourth earl is particularly notable as the last British peer to die a felon's death, in 1760, having murdered his steward.

The family seat is Haddenham Hall in Norfolk.

Earls Ferrers (1711)

• Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers (1650-1717)
• Washington Shirley, 2nd Earl Ferrers (1677-1729)
• Henry Shirley, 3rd Earl Ferrers (1691-1745)
• Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers (1720-1760)
• Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers (1722-1778)
• Robert Shirley, 6th Earl Ferrers (1723-1787)
• Robert Shirley, 7th Earl Ferrers (1756-1827)
• Washington Shirley, 8th Earl Ferrers (1760-1842)
• Washington Sewallis Shirley, 9th Earl Ferrers (1822-1859)
• Sewallis Edward Shirley, 10th Earl Ferrers (1847-1912)
• Walter Knight Shirley, 11th Earl Ferrers (1864-1937)
• Robert Walter Shirley, 12th Earl Ferrers (1894-1954)
• Robert Washington Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers (b. 1929)