Earl of Thanet

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Earl of Thanet was a title in the Peerage of England. The full name of the peerage was Earl of the Isle of Thanet, but in practice only the shorter form was used.

Sir John Tufton was created a Baronet in 1611, styled "of Hothfield in the County of Kent". His son, who succeeded him as 2nd Baronet in 1624, was created Baron Tufton, of Tufton in the County of Sussex, in 1626, and Earl of the Isle of Thanet in 1628.

In 1678 the 3rd Earl successfully claimed the Barony of Clifford, a Barony by Writ created in 1299, which had been dormant since the death of the 3rd Earl of Cumberland in 1605. However, on the death of the 6th Earl this title fell into abeyance between his five daughters (it was called out of abeyance in 1734 for the third daughter, Margaret).

The Baronetcy, Barony of Tufton and Earldom of Thanet became extinct on the death of the 11th Earl in 1849. He devised his estates on his reputed natural son Richard Tufton, who was created a Baronet in 1851. Richard's son, the 2nd Baronet, was created Baron Hothfield in 1881.