What is Earl of York?

In Anglo-Saxon England, the Earl of York or Ealdorman of York was the ruler of the southern half of Northumbria. The titles ealdorman and earl both come from Old English. The ealdormanry seems to have been created in 966 following a period when the region was under the control of Oswulf, already high-reeve of Bamburgh in northern Northumbria, from about 954, when Norse rule at York came to an end.

After the Norman conquest , the Earldom of York was re-created on two occasions. In 1385, the title Duke of York was granted to Edmund of Langley and it continues in use.