From Anglo Saxon kingdoms through to the present? A map or series of maps? Or a flow chart or something showing how they were broken up by William and then evolved from there?
History of Earldoms:
A complete history would be very complex.
There have been 988 creations of Earldoms in Britain (including re-creations, and re-re-creations, etc.)
323 of those Earldoms remain in existence today. (Though not 323 Earls, as some people hold more than one title of Earl).
Early Anglo-Norman Earls held their land in at least 3 different ways:
Earls Palatine, whose titles were connected to entire counties, and who held regal jurisdiction and all the rights of Royal Seigneury in their lands (usually “Marcher Earldoms” such as Chester, Pembroke, Durham).
Earldoms created by the King and appointed to a county, but only enjoying rights to 1/3 of the profits of the Royal Court.
Earldoms created by large grants of land to be held in feudal service to the King. These lands might be concentrated in a county (originally) but might not (and over time, with marriages and inheritances would become less so).
Later in Medieval times, the connections between the title of Earl and the governance of sections (counties) in the Kingdom became more and more tenuous. The feudal military service for land also became replaced with money payments.
Pre- Norman Conquest: 1017-1066:
15 Earldoms were created.
At the time of the conquest in 1066, only 6 remained.
Only 3 survived the Conquest.
All are now extinct, the latest in 1237 (Earls of Huntingdon and Northampton).
In the Peerage of England: 1066-1707:
Between the Conquest and the Domesday Book in 1086, 17 Earldoms were created. At the time of the Domesday Book, only 8 of these survived. These 8, plus the 2 still surviving from pre-conquest at the time of the Domesday Book, meant that there were 10 Earldoms in England in 1086.
Throughout the Peerage of England, 332 Earldoms were created.
45 of these creations still exist.
The earliest that still exists is the Earl of Arundel, from the creation of 1143. The currant Earl is also Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Surrey, and Earl of Norfolk.
In the Peerage of Scotland: 1072-1707:
187 Earldoms were created or re-created.
81 still exist.
The earliest that still exists is the Earl of Mar, from the creation of 1115.
In the Peerage of Great Britain: 1707-1801:
98 Earldoms were created.
43 still exist.
In the Peerage of Ireland: 1205-1831:
186 Earldoms were created.
58 still exist.
The Earl of Kildare, from the creation of 1316, is the oldest still existing. The currant Earl is also Duke of Leinster, Marquess of Kildare, and Earl of Offaly.
In the Peerage of the United Kingdom: 1801-Present:
170 Earldoms have been created.
96 survive.
For data on all the creations, and their extinctions, see: