Early Life
Lincolnshire Pedigrees gives his name as "Thomas de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk", but there was no Earl of Suffolk called Thomas de la Pole. Possibly the person that is meant is Thomas de la Pole, son of
William de la Pole (Chief Baron of Exchequer). This latter Thomas would have been the
brother of Michael de la Pole, 1st Earl of Suffolk and the timing is correct.
So most likely this Thomas was the son of
William de la Pole and
Katherine de Norwich, daughter of Sir Walter de Norwich.