Author Susanne Dietze
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Forms of Address

What to do when one encounters a member of British peerage while out and  about (or when writing a British-set historical novel)? What does one call the  Earl's mama? What's the difference between a baron and a viscount? In movies, lords are often called Your Majesty or Your Grace. Is that accurate?

The answer to that last question is a resounding no. And as for the earlier questions, well...that's tricky. One addresses members of the peerage according to a particular set of rules. 

First of all, Your Majesty is reserved for the Sovereign (today, Queen Elizabeth II). In the Regency period, the Prince Regent was always  addressed as Your Royal Highness, and after that, Sir. (Today, Prince Charles is styled the same way.)

Following the Royal Family, the peerage has five descending ranks: Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron. While a few women were and are peeresses in their own right, the majority of peers are men and they are considered noble. Wives and children of peers are considered commoners (Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of an earl, was a commoner when she married Prince Charles--even though she became the Princess of Wales, she was not a princess in her own right and was still a commoner). Children, primarily first-born sons, sometimes receive a courtesy title of lesser rank, but it is not until their father dies that the eldest son inherits the father's title and is considered a peer rather than a commoner.
 
Surnames are not the same as titles, although the Spencers are an exception: Lady Diana Spencer's father was Earl Spencer and the family surname is Spencer, but in most all other cases, the titles do not match the family surname. Titles are often associated with a place, such as Devonshire or Argyll.
 
On another note, first names were not always used by noblemen during the Regency. Often, from birth to adulthood, a peer was referred to by his title rather than his first name, even by his close family. But not always.

Now for my Forms of Address list. I hope it's handy and helpful. I have also included Lords of Parliament in my list, which is a Scottish title. You'll see Baronets listed, too, although they are not peers but commoners. However, the title is hereditary and they are included in published Peerages listing Who's Who and all those lists explaining Whom Enters the Dining Room first.


DUKE

Duke  (David Moneybags, the Duke of Bigbucks)
   Introduced as:   His Grace the Duke of Bigbucks
   Referred to as: His Grace
   In Speech: Your Grace (by inferiors), Duke (by peers)

Duchess (Davinia Moneybags, the Duchess of Bigbucks)
    Introduced as: Her Grace the Duchess of Bigbucks
    Referred to as: Her Grace
    In Speech: Your Grace (by inferiors), Duchess (by peers)
    Dowager: Her Grace Elinor, Duchess of Bigbucks or Her Grace the Dowager Duchess of Bigbucks

Eldest Son (George Moneybags, The Marquess of Midas -- courtesy title)
    Introduced as: The Marquess of Midas
    In Speech: Lord Midas, my lord 

Younger Son (Henry Moneybags)
    Introduced as: Lord Henry Moneybags
    In Speech: Lord Henry

Daughter (Olivia Moneybags)
    Introduced as: Lady Olivia  Moneybags
    In Speech: Lady Olivia


MARQUESS (Sometimes Marquis)

Marquess (John Awesome, the Marquess of Fabulous)
    Introduced as: The Marquess of Fabulous
    Referred to as: Lord Fabulous
    In Speech: Lord Fabulous, my lord
    Referred to by employee as: my lord (to his face) or your lordship (in reference to)

Marchioness (Emily Awesome, the Marchioness of Fabulous)
    Introduced as: The Marchioness of Fabulous
    Referred to as: Lady Fabulous
    In Speech: Lady Fabulous, my lady
    Referred to by employee as: my lady (to her face), her ladyship (in reference to)
    Dowager: Mary, Marchioness of Fabulous, or the Dowager Marchioness of Fabulous

Eldest Son (Charles Awesome, the Earl of Cool -- courtesy title)
    Introduced as: The Earl of Cool
    In Speech: Lord Cool

Younger Son (William Awesome)
    Introduced as: Lord William Awesome
    In Speech: Lord William

Daughter (Sarah Awesome)
    Introduced as: Lady Sarah Awesome
    In Speech: Lady Sarah


EARL

Earl (Sylvester Goodlooks, the Earl of Handsome)
    Introduced as: The Earl of Handsome
    Referred to as: Lord Handsome
    In Speech: Lord Handsome, my lord
    Referred to by employee as: my lord (to his face), his lordship (in reference to)
    Signs letters: Handsome

Countess (Jane Goodlooks, the Countess of Handsome)
    Introduced as: The Countess of Handsome
    Referred to as: Lady Handsome
    In Speech: Lady Handsome, my lady
    Referred to by employee as: my lady, or her ladyship (in reference to)
    Dowager: Elizabeth, Countess of Handsome or The Dowager Countess of Handsome

Eldest Son (Andrew Goodlooks, the Viscount Comely--courtesy title)
    Introduced as: The Viscount Comely
    In Speech: Lord Comely

Younger Son (The Honorable Bertram Goodlooks)
    Introduced as: Mr. Bertram Goodlooks
    In Speech: Mr. Goodlooks

Daughter (Georgiana Goodlooks)
    Introduced as: Lady Georgiana Goodlooks
    In Speech: Lady Georgiana


VISCOUNT

Viscount (Edmund Jewel, the Viscount Diamond--note, there is no "of" in the title)
    Introduced as: The Viscount Diamond
    Referred to as: Lord Diamond
    In Speech: Lord Diamond, my lord
    Referred to by employee as: my lord, or his lordship (in reference to)

Viscountess (Gemma Jewel, the Viscountess Diamond)
    Introduced as: The Viscountess Diamond
    Referred to as: Lady Diamond
    In Speech: Lady Diamond, my lady
    Referred to by employee as: my lady, or her ladyship (in reference to)
    Dowager: Sapphira, Viscountess Diamond, or The Dowager Viscountess Diamond

Eldest Son (The Honorable Robert Jewel)
    Introduced as: Mr. Robert Jewel
    In Speech: Mr. Jewel

Younger Son (The Honorable Giles Jewel)
    Introduced as: Mr. Giles Jewel
    In Speech: Mr. Jewel

Eldest Daughter (The Honorable Emeraldine Jewel)
    Introduced as: Miss Emeraldine Jewel
    In Speech: Miss Jewel

Younger Daughter (The Honorable Pearl Jewel)
    Introduced as: Miss Pearl Jewel
    In Speech: Miss Pearl Jewel (includes first name)


BARON

Baron (Peter Storehouse, Baron Gold)
    Introduced as: The Lord Gold
    Referred to as: Lord Gold
    In Speech: Lord Gold, my lord 
    Referred to by employee as: my lord or his lordship

Baroness (Eliza Storehouse, Baroness Gold)
    Introduced as: The Lady Gold
    Referred to as: Lady Gold, my lady
    In Speech: Lady Gold
    Referred to by employee as: her ladyship
    Dowager: The Right Hon. the Dowager Lady Gold or Caroline, Lady Gold

Son (The Honorable Hugh Storehouse)
    Introduced as: Mr. Hugh Storehouse
    In Speech: Mr. Storehouse

Eldest Daughter (The Honorable Aurora Storehouse)
    Introduced as: Miss Aurora Storehouse
    In Speech: Miss Storehouse

Younger Daughter (The Honorable Cassandra Storehouse)
    Introduced as: Miss Cassandra Storehouse
    In Speech: Miss Cassandra Storehouse


(LORD OF PARLIAMENT -- a Scottish title which would fall here in order of succession)

Lord of Parliament (Angus MacDonald, The Lord Haggis)
    Introduced as: The Lord Haggis
    Referred to as: Lord Haggis
    In Speech: my lord
    Referred to by employee as: my lord, his lordship

Lady (Flora MacDonald, Lady Haggis)
    Introduced as:   The Lady Haggis
    Referred to as: Lady Haggis
    In Speech: Lady Haggis, my lady
    Referred to by employee as: my lady, her ladyship

Oldest Son (Alexander MacDonald, The Master of Haggis)
    Introduced as: The Master of Haggis
    Referred to as: The Master
    In Speech: The Master

Younger Son (Fergus MacDonald)
    Introduced as: Mr. Fergus MacDonald
    In Speech: Mr. MacDonald

Daughter (Fiona MacDonald)
    Introduced as: Miss Flora MacDonald
    In Speech: Miss MacDonald


BARONET

Baronet (Thomas Pleasant)
    Introduced as: Sir Thomas Pleasant
    Referred to as: Sir Thomas
    In Speech: Sir Thomas, sir
    Referred to by employee as: Sir Thomas

Wife (Anne Pleasant)
    Introduced as: Lady Anne Pleasant
    Referred to as: Lady Pleasant, Madam
    In Speech: Lady Pleasant, my lady
    Referred to by employee as: my lady
    Dowager: Dowager Lady Pleasant

Son (Edward Pleasant)
    Introduced as: Mr. Edward Pleasant
    In Speech: Mr. Pleasant

Eldest Daughter (Lydia Pleasant)
    Introduced as: Miss Pleasant
    In Speech: Miss Pleasant

Younger Daughter (Maria Pleasant)
    Introduced as: Miss Maria Pleasant
    In Speech: Miss Maria Pleasant


KNIGHT

Knight (Richard Braveheart)
    Sir Richard Braveheart

Wife (Georgiana)
    Lady Braveheart

The various orders of knighthood are not hereditary.


    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Extras
    • Recipes
    • Contests & Giveaways
    • FAQ
    • For Writers
    • Privacy
    • Credits
    • Historical Research & Recipes >
      • US History Research Links
      • British Victorian and Edwardian Reserach Links
      • What is the Regency?
      • British Forms of Address
      • Regency Weddings
      • Tea, Jane Austen Style
      • Christmas in the Regency
      • Dressing the Regency Lady
      • Fashion for the Regency Gentleman
      • Regency Currency
      • Regency Cant
      • Regency Research Links