The title of Baron Welles has been created thrice. It was first created for Adam de Welles on 6 May 1299 in the Peerage of England by writ of summons. This creation was extinguished by attainder in 1469. It was created a second time in the Peerage of England by writ of summons for Sir Richard Hastings on 15 November 1487 and became extinct on his death. The third creation was on 8 January 1781, in the Peerage of Ireland, for Thomas Knox, later Viscount Northland. It is now a subsidiary title of the Earl of Ranfurly.