The title Marquess of Halifax was created in the Peerage of England in 1682 for the George Savile, 1st Earl of Halifax.
He had previously been created Baron Savile, of Elland in the County of York, Viscount Halifax in 1668, and Earl of Halifax in 1679, all also in the Peerage of England. The baronetcy, styled "of Thornhill in the County of York", had been created in the Baronetage of England in 1611 for his great-grandfather George Savile.[1] All peerages became extinct on the death of the 2nd Marquess in 1700. The baronetcy was inherited by a kinsman, the 6th Baronet, and became extinct on the death of the 8th Baronet in 1784.
The courtesy title used by the heir apparent to the earldom and marquessate was Lord Elland, taken from the territorial designation of the barony of Savile. The family seat was originally Thornhill Hall, which was destroyed in the English Civil War, after which the seat was transferred to Rufford Abbey.