Earl of Cardigan is an English peerage title. It was created in 1661 for Thomas Brudenell, who had been previously created Baron Brudenell (1628) and was an English Baronet, Brudenell of Deen. In 1790 the title Baron Brudenell of Deene merged with the earldom. The titles were inherited by the second Marquess of Ailesbury in 1868; the two titles have remained united since.

Earls of Cardigan (1661)

• Thomas Brudenell, 1st Earl of Cardigan (d. 1663)
• Robert Brudenell, 2nd Earl of Cardigan (1607-1703)
• George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan (d. 1732)
• George Brudenell, later Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu, 4th Earl of Cardigan (1712-1790)
• James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan (1725-1811)
• Robert Brudenell, 6th Earl of Cardigan (1769-1837)
• James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797-1868)
• George William Frederick Brudenell-Bruce, 2nd Marquess of Ailesbury, 8th Earl Cardigan (1804-1878)
• See Marquess of Ailesbury for further Earls of Cardigan.