Possibly James Howard, 3rd Earl of Suffolk (1606/7–1688), first cousin of Charles Howard, Viscount Andover, later 2nd Earl of Berkshire (1615–1679), who married Dorothy Savage in 1637. Suffolk married, in 1682 as his third wife, Ann Montagu ( circa 1667–1720), daughter of Robert, 3rd Earl of Manchester (1634–1683)
Possibly by inheritance, following Suffolk's death in 1688, to his wife Ann, who returned to live with her family at Kimbolton Castle
Thence by descent in the collection of the Dukes of Manchester, at Kimbolton Castle, Cambridgeshire, to Alexander Montagu, 10th Duke of Manchester (1902–1977)
By whom sold, Kimbolton Castle sale on the premises, Knight Frank & Rutley, 18 July 1949, lot 18 (as a portrait of the Countesses of Rutland and Southampton)
Miss Marjorie Pollard, OBE (1899–1982)
Anonymous sale, Oxford, Phillips, 8 October 1982, lot 243, to the present owner.