The titles of Earl or Duke of Bedford were created several times in the peerage of England. It was first created for Enguerrand VII de Coucy, son-in-law of King Edward III, in the 14th century. Later, a Dukedom of Bedford was created for King Henry IV's third son, John, who later served as regent of France. It was created again in 1470 for George Nevill, nephew of Warwick the Kingmaker, and again in 1485 for Jasper Tudor, uncle of King Henry VII.
The Russell family currently holds the titles of Earl and Duke of Bedford. John Russell, a close advisor of Henry VIII and Edward VI, was granted the title of Earl of Bedford in 1551, and his descendant William, 5th Earl, was created Duke following the Glorious Revolution.
Earls of Bedford, first creation (1366)
- Enguerrand VII de Coucy (1340-1397), resigned the title 1377
Dukes of Bedford, first creation (1414)
Dukes of Bedford, second creation (1470)
- George Nevill, Duke of Bedford (1457-1483), deprived 1478
Dukes of Bedford, third creation (1485)
Earls of Bedford, second creation (1551)
Dukes of Bedford, fourth creation (1694)
- William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford (1616-1700)
- Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford (1680-1711)
- Wriothesley Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford (1708-1732)
- John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford (1710-1771)
- Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford (1765-1802)
- John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766-1839)
- Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford (1788-1861)
- William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford (1809-1872)
- Francis Charles Hastings Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford (1819-1891)
- George William Francis Sackville Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford (1852-1893)
- Herbrand Arthur Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford (1858-1940)
- Hastings William Sackville Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford (1888-1953)
- John Robert Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford (1917-2002)
- Henry Robin Ian Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford (1940-2003)
- Andrew Ian Henry Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford (1962- )