Fleetwood is an Anglo-Swedish baronial family. The lineage was introduced with number 49 in the House of Nobility, also known as the Riddarhuset.

English origins

Descent and claims

The House was founded in the 14th century by William Fleetwood from whom all members descend. In 1320, he married Gwlladis, only daughter and heir to Meredith, son of Canuan, son of Conan, son of Owain Gwynedd. The later, was a king of Gwynedd who reigned in 1137 to his death in November 1169 and was married to Gwladys ap Llywarch, a daughter and heir of L'Loworth.

Rise to wealth

As such, the English family originates in Heskin, Lancashire, but it was of little importance until the 16th century, when Thomas Fleetwood and his three brothers moved south. The eldest, John Fleetwood, a clerk of Chancery by 1535, acquired a large estate mainly in Staffordshire and Lancashire, in each of which counties he was twice high sheriff; of the two other brothers, the elder, Edmund Fleetwood, entered the Charterhouse at Sheen and the younger, Robert Fleetwood, became a Clerk of the Petty Bag and was father of William Fleetwood, Recorder of London.

Family lines

A genealogy chart perused by William Segar, Garter Principal King of Arms, on 19 June 1632, is kept in deposit by the Nordic Museum. It depicts lineal descents and portrays the achievement of Sir George Fleetwood, Edward Fleetwood of Penwortham and Sir William Fleetwood of Misseden. An excerpt below starting with Edward Fleetwood:

Swedish nobility

House of Nobility

Sir George was knighted 3 June 1632 by the Swedish King Gustav II Adolf; created a Swedish baron 1 June 1654 at Uppsala Castle by Queen Christina, and was introduced into the House of Nobility on 19 June 1654 as Baronial family No 49 with the following blazon: "[..] Quarterly with an inescutcheon with the former Fleetwood weapon; in the uppermost quarter on the left and lowest on right an upright standing lion of red color in a field argent; In the upper one on the right and the last Shield on the left a crown in gold in field azure. [..]" Descendants of George Fleetwood, the Swedish general and baron, include the former member of the Swedish Parliament Elisabeth Fleetwood and painter William Fleetwood.