The family descends from Sir Andrew Windsor, who fought at the Battle of the Spurs in 1513, where he was knighted.

Edward's elder son Frederick, the fourth Baron, died unmarried at an early age and was succeeded by his younger brother, Henry.

In 1682, he was created Earl of Plymouth in the Peerage of England, a higher title of nobility.

He was succeeded by his grandson Other, who notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, Denbigh and Flint.

The barony fell into abeyance between his sisters Lady Maria Windsor, wife of Arthur Hill, 3rd Marquess of Downshire, and Lady Harriet Windsor, wife of Robert Clive, second son of Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis (see below for further history of the barony and Earl of Powis for earlier history of the Clive family).

Later residences are Oakly Park, Bromfield near Ludlow, Shropshire, and a house in London W8.

[2] 'Other' (pronounced ǒðer), a customary male forename for Earls of Plymouth, derives from medieval writings of earlier oral traditions regarding a Saxon ancestor 'Otho' or 'Othere' of the Hickman-Windsor family.

Known as Viscount Windsor from birth, he was educated at Harrow School and the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.

[5] The castle went (by gift) to the National Museum of Wales, becoming one of its key sites from his wife's death in 1947 (leading to his double probate) whereby the total assets amounted to £1,824,359 (equivalent to about £103,600,000 in 2023).