It was granted as a title for the male heirs apparent of the subsequent dukes of Alba, who until then held the Marquessate of Coria before succeeding to the Dukedom of Alba. Since then, the title has been held by the heir apparent to the Dukedom of Alba, almost as a title of courtesy.
The dukedom was only to be held by the male heirs apparent of the dukes of Alba. María Teresa Álvarez de Toledo, 11th Duchess of Alba (daughter of Francisco Álvarez de Toledo, 10th Duke of Alba) became the 11th Duchess of Alba after her father's death, but she was never the Duchess of Huéscar. It was her son Fernando de Silva, born in his grandfather's lifetime, who received the title at birth. This changed in 1776, when Fernando de Silva died without a male heir and his granddaughter, María Cayetana de Silva, did not have any issue from her marriage to José María Álvarez de Toledo. Cayetana de Silva claimed and received the title 13th Duchess of Alba, becoming the only female holder of the dukedom of Huéscar; her husband became jure uxoris Duke of Alba, his fifth ducal title (including Duke of Medina Sidonia, Montalto, Bivona, Fernandina).
The title has been held since then by the heirs apparent of the dukes of Alba, following the tradition. The late duchess of Alba, Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, was never Duchess of Huéscar (instead she was Duchess of Montoro), as it was her son Carlos, born in his grandfather's lifetime, who received the title at birth.
Dukes of Huéscar (1563–present)
María Josefa Pimentel y Girón, 1st Duchess of Huéscar (1537–1585).
Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Duke of Huéscar (1582–1584), only son of the 1st duchess.
