The Kings of Ireland have twice created the Earldom of Antrim in the Peerage of Ireland. The first creation occurred in 1620 for Randal Macdonnell . The first Earl's successor received the title of Marquess of Antrim in 1645, but he died without heirs, so the Marquessate became extinct.

In the late eighteenth century the earldom seemed in danger of extinction, with only one surviving male heir of the first Earl surviving. The Sovereign, therefore, created a new Earldom of Antrim in 1785 in favour of the sixth earl, with a special "remainder" that allowed the title to pass to his daughters. In 1789 the Sovereign also created the sixth Earl "Marquess of Antrim", without special remainder. When the sixth earl died in 1791, the original earldom and the Marquessate became extinct while the newer earldom passed to his daughter Anne . After her death, the earldom passed to her sister Charlotte . Since her death only males have held the earldom.

Earls of Antrim, First Creation (1620)

• Randal Macdonnell, 1st Earl of Antrim (d. 1636)
• Randal Macdonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim (1609-1682)
• Alexander Macdonnell, 3rd Earl of Antrim (1615-1699) (forfeit 1689; restored 1697)
• Randal Macdonnell, 4th Earl of Antrim (1680-1721)
• Alexander Macdonnell, 5th Earl of Antrim (1713-1755)
• Randall William Macdonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim (1749-1791)

Earls of Antrim, Second Creation (1785)

• Randall William Macdonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim (1749-1791)
• Anne Catherine Macdonnell, 2nd Countess of Antrim (1775-1834)
• Charlotte Kerr, 3rd Countess of Antrim (1779-1835)
• Hugh Seymour McDonnell, 4th Earl of Antrim (1812-1855)
• Mark McDonnell, 5th Earl of Antrim (1814-1869)
• William Randal McDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim (1851-1918)
• Randall Mark Kerr McDonnell, 7th Earl of Antrim (1878-1932)
• Randall John Somerled McDonnell, 8th Earl of Antrim (1911-1977)
• Alexander Randal Mark McDonnell, 9th Earl of Antrim (b. 1935)