The title has been recreated eight times from its original inception, beginning with a new first Earl upon each new creation.

The most well-known Earls of Essex were Thomas Cromwell (c. 1485 – 1540) (sixth creation), chief minister to King Henry VIII, Sir William Parr (1513-1571) who was brother to Queen Catherine Parr who was the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1565–1601) (eighth creation), a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I who led Essex's Rebellion in 1601.

The current holder of the earldom is Paul Capell, 11th Earl of Essex (born 1944), a retired school teacher from Caton, Lancashire.

The title was first created in the 12th century for Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex (died 1144).

Geoffrey Fitz Peter, who had married Beatrice de Say, granddaughter of the first earl's sister and eventual heir to the Mandeville honour, gained the earldom in 1199 at its second creation by King John.

Walter Devereux was the first earl of this creation; he was related to the Bourchier family who had held the honour earlier.

John Thomas Capell, second son of the fourth Earl from his second marriage to Harriet Bladen.

Algernon Henry Champagné Capell (younger brother of the sixth Earl), son of the aforementioned the Hon.

Sir Thomas Bladen Capell (1776–1853), youngest son of the second marriage of the fourth Earl, was an admiral in the Royal Navy.

The heir presumptive is the present holder's fourth cousin once-removed William Jennings Capell (born 1952).

After the Restoration, having been created Viscount Malden and 1st Earl of Essex,[8] the younger Capell became an ambitious courtier of Charles II.

Although a royal visit was not forthcoming, the 1st Earl's favour for Cassiobury completed the family's move to Watford, and Hadham Hall fell into disuse.