The county was named for James CROMPTON, Earl of Northampton Northampton County is one of 100 counties in North Carolina. From http://www.kateemersonhistoricals.com/TudorWomen9.htm BARON COMPTON cr. 1572 Henry Compton, 1st baron (February 16,1538-December 1589) m.1) c.1571 Frances Hastings (1533-1574) 2)1582 Anne Spencer (c.1555-September 22,1618) William Compton, 2nd baron (1568-June 24,1630) m. 1600 Elizabeth Spencer (d.May 8,1632); cr. earl of Northampton 1618 From http://www.thepeerage.com/p3025.htm#i30244 James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton was born on 19 August 1622. He was the son of Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton and Mary Beaumont. He married Hon. Mary Noel, daughter of Baptist Noel, 3rd Viscount Campden and Hon. Hester Wotton.2 He married Lady Isabella Sackville, daughter of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset and Anne Clifford, Baroness Clifford, on 5 July 1647.1 He died on 15 December 1681 at age 59. Child of James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton and Lady Isabella Sackville Lady Alethea Compton b. 14 Mar 1661, d. 14 Oct 1678 Children of James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton and Hon. Mary Noel Mary CROMPTON George Compton, 4th Earl of Northampton+ b. 18 Oct 1664, d. 15 Apr 1727 Derek Crompton London south-east