Lady Catherine Carey (c. 1526/1529 - 15 January, 1568) was Chief Lady of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth I of England.

She was the daughter of William Carey, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and Esquire of the Body to King Henry VIII of England, and his wife Lady Mary Boleyn, sometime mistress of said king. Some have argued that Catherine and her brother Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon were fathered by Henry VIII himself.

She was married to Sir Francis Knollys c. 1540. Her husband was named a Knight of the Garter in 1593. They had a total of twelve children:

• Lettice Knollys (1540 - 25 December, 1634). She married first Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, secondly Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester and thirdly Christopher Blount .
• Sir Henry Knollys (c. 1542 - 1583). He was a Member of Parliament representing first Shoreham, Kent (1563) and then Oxfordshire. Esquire of the Body to Elizabeth I. He was married to Margaret Cave (1549 - 1600, daughter of Sir Ambrose Cave and Margaret Willington.
• Elizabeth Knollys. She married Sir Thomas Leighton, son of John Leighton of Watlesburgh and Joyce Sutton, in 1578. Her husband served as governor of Jersey.
• William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury (c. 1545 - 25 May, 1632). He was married first to Dorothy Bray and secondly to Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk and his second wife Catherine Knyvett.
• Edward Knollys (1546 - 1580). He was a Member of Parliament.
• Sir Robert Knollys (1547 - 1626). Member of Parliament representing Reading, Berkshire (1572 - 1589), Brecknockshire (1589 - 1604), Abingdon, Oxfordshire (1604, 1624 - 1625) and finally Berkshire (1626). He married Catherine Vaughan, daughter of Sir Rowland Vaughan of Porthamel.
• Richard Knollys (1548 - 21 August, 1596). Member of Parliament representing first Wallingford (1584) and then Northampton (1588). Married Joan Heigham, daughter of John Heigham of Cliffords.
• Sir Francis Knollys "the Young" (c. 1552 - 1643). Member of Parliament representing first Oxford (1572 - 1588) and then Berkshire (1597, 1625). Married Lettice Barrett, daughter of John Barrett of Hanham. Father-in-law of John Hampden.
• Sir Thomas Knollys. Better known for service in the Eighty Years' War (1568 - 1648). Governor of Ostend in 1586. Married Odelia de Morana, daughter of John de Morada, Marquess of Bergen .
• Anne Knollys (c. 1553 - last reported alive 30 August , 1608). Married Thomas West, 2nd Baron De La Warr . Mother to Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr.
• Catherine Knollys (c. 1560 - 20 December, 1620). Married first Gerald Fitzgerald, Baron Offaley and secondly Sir Phillip Butler of Watton Woodhall, a possible descedant of James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde .
• Cecily Knollys. No known descedants.

Namesake niece

Catherine Carey (c. 1547 - 25 February, 1603) was a namesake niece of the above. She was daughter to Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon and his wife Ann Morgan, daughter of Sir Thomas Morgan and Anne Whitney.

Catherine married Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham in July, 1563. They had five children:

• Lady Frances Howard (buried July 11, 1628). She was married first to Henry FitzGerald, 12th Earl of Kildare . They had a daughter Bridget Fitzgerald. She was secondly married to Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham. Her daughter was married first to Robert O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell and secondly to Nicholas Barnewall, 1st Viscount Barnewall of Kingsland .
• William Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Effingham (December 27, 1577 - November 28, 1615). He was married on February 7, 1596/1597 to Anne St. John. Their daughter Elizabeth Howard was wife to John Mordaunt, 1st Earl of Peterborough .
• Charles Howard, 2nd Earl of Nottingham (September 17, 1579 - October 3, 1642). He was married first on May 19, 1597 to Charity White (d. December 18, 1618), daughter to Robert White. Secondly on April 22, 1620 to Mary Cokayne , daughter of Sir William Cokayne who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1619 and Mary Morris. No known children from either marriage.
• Lady Margaret Howard . She was married to Sir Richard Levenson.
• Lady Elizabeth Howard (buried March 31, 1646). Maid of honour to Elizabeth I of England. She was married first to Sir Robert Southwell. They were parents to Elizabeth Southwell (lover to Robert Dudley, styled Earl of Warwick), Catherine Southwell and Sir Thomas Southwell. She was secondly married to John Stewart, 1st Earl of Carrick . They were parents to Lady Margaret Stuart who was wife to Sir Matthew Mennes.