The title of Earl of Effingham has been created twice in British history, both times for holders of the Barony of Howard of Effingham. It was created first in 1731 in the Peerage of Great Britain, becoming extinct in 1816. It was created again for the last Earl's cousin, who succeeded him as Lord Howard of Effingham, in 1837.

The Earl holds the subsidiary title of Baron Howard of Effingham (1554) in the Peerage of England.

Barons Howard of Effingham (1554)

• William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham (1510-1573)
• Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham (1536-1624)
• Charles Howard, 2nd Earl of Nottingham, 3rd Baron Howard of Effingham (1579-1642)
• Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Nottingham, 4th Baron Howard of Effingham (1610-1681)
• Francis Howard, 5th Baron Howard of Effingham (1643-1695)
• Thomas Howard, 6th Baron Howard of Effingham (1682-1725)
• Francis Howard, 7th Baron Howard of Effingham (1683-1743) (became Earl of Effingham in 1731)

Earls of Effingham, First Creation (1731)

• Francis Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham (1683-1743)
• Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Effingham (1714-1763)
• Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham (1746-1791)
• Richard Howard, 4th Earl of Effingham (1748-1816)

Earls of Effingham, Second Creation (1837)

• Kenneth Alexander Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham (1767-1845)
• Henry Howard, 2nd Earl of Effingham (1806-1889)
• Henry Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham (1837-1898)
• Henry Alexander Gordon Howard, 4th Earl of Effingham (1866-1927)
• Gordon Frederick Henry Charles Howard, 5th Earl of Effingham (1873-1946)
• Mowbray Henry Gordon Howard, 6th Earl of Effingham (1905-1996)
• David Peter Mowbray Algernon Howard, 7th Earl of Effingham (b. 1939)

Heir Apparent: his son, Edward Mowbray Nicholas Howard, Lord Howard of Effingham (b. 1971)