Osulf II (also known as Oswulf) was the son of Eadulf III, Earl of Bernicia, and grandson of Uthred the Bold, Earl of Northumbria. Osulf’s family ruled as Earls of Northumbria from 954 until 1016, and as Earls of Bernicia until 1041, with their capital at Bamburgh. In 1065 Morcar succeeded Tostig as Earl of Northumbria, and he appointed Osulf to rule the portion north of the River Tyne. However, because of Morcar’s resistance to William the Conqueror in 1066, he was deposed and imprisoned. William then appointed Copsig, Tostig’s former deputy, as the new Earl.