The title Earl of Seafield was created in 1701 for James Ogilvy, who served as Secretary of State for Scotland, President of the Scottish Parliament, Royal Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, Lord Chief Baron of the Court of the Exchequer in Scotland, and Scottish representative peer during his political and judicial career. In 1711, Lord Seafield succeeded his father as 4th Earl of Findlater. The two earldoms remained united until the death of the seventh Earl of Findlater, also fourth Earl of Seafield, when the Findlater title became dormant, and the Seafield title passed to Lewis Alexander Grant. Grant then changed his name to Grant-Ogilvy. His successor reversed the order of the surnames.

Other titles held by the Earl of Seafield are: Viscount Seafield (created 1698), Viscount Reidhaven (1701), Lord Ogilvy of Cullen (1698) and Lord Ogilvy of Deskford and Cullen (1701). All titles held by the Earl are in the Peerage of Scotland.

Earls of Seafield (1701)

• James Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Findlater, 1st Earl of Seafield (1663-1730)
• James Ogilvy, 5th Earl of Findlater, 2nd Earl of Seafield (d. 1764)
• James Ogilvy, 6th Earl of Findlater, 3rd Earl of Seafield (d. 1770)
• James Ogilvy, 7th Earl of Findlater, 4th Earl of Seafield (1750-1811)
• Lewis Alexander Grant-Ogilvy, 5th Earl of Seafield (1767-1840)
• Francis William Ogilvy-Grant, 6th Earl of Seafield (1778-1853)
• John Charles Ogilvy-Grant, 7th Earl of Seafield (1815-1881)
• Ian Charles Ogilvy-Grant, 8th Earl of Seafield (1851-1884)
• James Ogilvy-Grant, 9th Earl of Seafield (1817-1888)
• Francis William Ogilvy-Grant, 10th Earl of Seafield (1847-1888)
• James Ogilvie-Grant, 11th Earl of Seafield (1876-1915)
• Nina Caroline Studley-Herbert, 12th Countess of Seafield (1906-1969)
• Ian Derek Francis Ogilvie-Grant, 13th Earl of Seafield (b. 1939)