The Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family () are the descendants of the 16th

Baron Saye and Sele Baron Saye and Sele is a title in the Peerage of England held by the Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family. The title dates to 1447 but it was recreated in 1603. Confusion over the details of the 15th-century title has led to conflicting order for ti ...

who was born Frederick Benjamin Twisleton and adopted the surname Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes in 1849 by Act of Parliament. He was the grandson of

Thomas Twisleton, 13th Baron Saye and Sele Major-General Thomas Twisleton, 13th Baron Saye and Sele ( – 1 July 1788) was a British Army officer who served in the Seven Years' War and American War of Independence. Military career Twisleton was the son of John Twistleton (died 1763) of ...

and inherited the barony from his first cousin William Thomas Eardley-Twisleton-Fiennes in 1847. The surname is frequently shortened to Fiennes. Members of the family include the explorer

Ranulph Fiennes Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet (born 7 March 1944), commonly known as Sir Ranulph Fiennes () and sometimes as Ran Fiennes, is a British explorer, writer and poet, who holds several endurance records. Fiennes served in the ...

and the actors

Ralph Fiennes Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (; born 22 December 1962) is an English actor, film producer, and director. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Ralph Fiennes, various accolades, including a British Academy Film ...

Joseph Fiennes Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (; born 27 May 1970), known as Joseph Fiennes, is an English actor of film, stage, and television. Fiennes is particularly known for his versatility and period pieces. Journalist Zoe Williams observed t ...

, and

Hero Fiennes Tiffin Hero Beauregard Faulkner Fiennes Tiffin (; born 6 November 1997) is an English actor and film producer. He is most known for his starring roles in the ''After'' film series (2019–2023) and for his portrayal of a young Tom Riddle in the film ...

Ancestry

The ancestry of the family includes

James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele (22 September 1395 – 4 July 1450) was an English soldier and politician. He was born at Herstmonceux, Sussex, the second son of Sir William Fiennes (1 August 1357 – 18 January 1402) and his wife Elizab ...

(c. 1395–1450) and his father William de Fiennes. Richard Fiennes, a nephew of the 1st Baron, became the 7th

Baron Dacre Baron Dacre is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of England, each time by Hereditary peer#Writs of summons, writ. History The first creation came in 1321, when Ralph Dacre, 1st Baron Dacre, Ralph Dacre was Hereditary peer# ...

after marrying the daughter of the 6th Baron Dacre. The family are descendants of Thomas Wykeham, the great-nephew of

William of Wykeham William of Wykeham (; 1320 or 1324 – 27 September 1404) was Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England. He founded New College, Oxford, and New College School in 1379, and founded Winchester College in 1382. He was also the clerk of ...

(c. 1320–1404) who left his fortune to his great-nephew. The inheritance included

Broughton Castle Broughton Castle is a medieval fortified manor house in the village of Broughton, which is about southwest of Banbury in Oxfordshire, England, on the B4035 road (). It is the home of the Fiennes (in full Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes) family, ...

which became the home of the Barons Saye and Sele, after Thomas Wykeham's granddaughter married William Fiennes, 2nd Baron Saye and Sele. The Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family are also descendants of John Twisleton (c. 1614–1682) who married Elizabeth Fiennes, the daughter of James Fiennes, 2nd Viscount Saye and Sele, 9th Baron Saye and Sele. Elizabeth Fiennes's mother was Frances Cecil, daughter of

Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon (29 February 1572 – 16 November 1638) was an English military commander and a politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1601 and 1624. Life Cecil was the third son of Thomas Ceci ...

, so the family also descends from

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (13 September 15204 August 1598), was an English statesman, the chief adviser of Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State (England), Secretary of State (1550–1553 and ...

. The 21st Baron Saye and Sele,

Nathaniel Fiennes Nathaniel Fiennes, 1608 to 16 December 1669, was a younger son of the Puritan nobleman and politician, William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele. He sat in the House of Commons of England, House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1 ...

, changed his surname by

deed poll A deed poll (plural: deeds poll) is a legal document binding on a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an intention or create an obligation. It is a deed, and not a contract, because it binds only one party. Etymology Th ...

to Fiennes in 1965.

References

{{Reflist Twisleton English families Show business families of the United Kingdom Nobility from Oxfordshire People from Berkshire Compound surnames

Ancestry

See also

References