Edward Lewknor (c. 1517 – 1556) was the representative of a branch of a prominent Sussex family, in an armigerous line descending in the distaff side from the Camoys barony. Having attained standing as a member of parliament and by a position of service in the royal household, his career was ended abruptly by his involvement in Henry Dudley's conspiracy against Queen Mary I, and his consequent attainder. His children were restored in blood by Queen Elizabeth I.
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Family origins
Edward Lewknor was the son of Edward Lewknor (died 1528) of Kingston Buci, Sussex, and his wife Margaret Copley, daughter of Roger Copley citizen and Mercer of London and of Roffey (in Horsham, Sussex – died c. 1482) by his wife Anne, a daughter and coheiress of Sir Thomas Hoo, Baron Hoo and Hastings by Eleanor, daughter of Lionel Welles. Margaret Copley's sister Eleanor was the third wife of Thomas West, 8th Baron De La Warr, who acted as feoffee for Edward's grandfather in securing the descent and uses of his estates according to the terms of his will. Edward's father had a younger half-brother Richard Lewknor and three half-sisters, whose mother Anne (died 1538), daughter of John Everard of Cratfield and sister-in-law of John Tasburgh of St Peter, South Elmham, remarried to Sir Edward Echyngham of Barsham, Suffolk (died 1527).