Addressing the Peerage

[Lady Rosalind Avalle]

Opening Notes: As mentioned in the post for special titles and exceptions, it is considered rude to address anyone by his or her Christian name without prior leave. This includes addresing a woman as "Lady Mary" or the unthinkable, "Mary," upon first meeting. There is a general pattern in how the nobility choose to be addressed, and this list is by no means thorough regarding every situation that might arise. It is, however, period-correct.

A thousand apologies for how terrible my formatting is. I hate tables.

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Gentry
Knights and Local Offices of Government (Sheriff, Justices of Eyre/Assize, Coroners, etc)

Example: Sir John Walter

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Sir John Walter	Master Walter, Your Lordship	Sir John, Sir, Milord	Sir John

Sir John Walter's wife, Mary

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Mary Lady Walter	Lady Walter	Dame Mary, or My Lady	Lady Walter

Sir John Walter's children have no titles, but are referred to as Master Peter and Mistress Catherine.


Notes: Until the 16th century, knighthood was not only a battlefield honorific (or a title gained through battlefield service to the Crown), it also carried with it duties to the Court to maintain standing (depending on how in favor you were with the monarch, these duties could be quite profitable), peripheral titles (such as "baron"), and income, all taxable. Knighthood is not hereditary. Barons and landed knights were often known simply by their titles, and even among friends, it was common to address a landed knight simply as "Placename" rather than by his Christian or family name.

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Baron

Example: Stephen White, Baron of Foresthill

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Lord Stephen White	My Lord Foresthill	My Lord, Sir, or Foresthill	Stephen Foresthill, Sir Stephen

Jane, the Baroness Foresthill, is the baron's wife. Her maiden name is Oxley.

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Lady Foresthill	My Lady Foresthill	My Lady	Jane Foresthill

The Baron's children have no titles, and are referred to as Lord George and Lord Margaret. They may also be called Master George and Mistress Margaret, but only among close friends and servants.

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Viscount

Example: Robert Loblaw, Viscount Balabla

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Lord Balabla	My Lord Balabla	My Lord, or Balabla	Robert Balabla

Rebecca, the Viscontess Balabla, is the Lord Balabla's wife. Her maiden name is Greene.

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Lady Balabla	My Lady Balabla	My Lady	Rebecca Balabla

The Viscount's children have no titles, and are referred to as Lord Simon and Lady Anne, and Master Simon and Mistress Anne by close friends and servants.

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Earl

Example: His lordship, James Clare, Earl of Bedford

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Lord Bedford	My Lord Bedford	My Lord, or Bedford	Bedford

Maude, the Earl of Bedford's wife, is the Countess of Bedford. Her maiden name is Russell.

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Lady Bedford	My Lady Bedford	My Lady	Maude Bedford

The earl's children, Adam and Elizabeth, may be addressed as Lord/Master Adam and Lady/Mistress Elizabeth, but never Lord or Lady Clare.

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Marquis

Example: His Lordship, Henry Carrey, Marquis of Northampton

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Lord Northampton	My Lord Northampton	My Lord, or Northampton	Thomas Northampton

Catherine, the Marquis of Northampton's wife, is the Marchioness of Northampton. Her maiden name is Lead.

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Lady Northampton	My Lady Northampton	My Lady	Catherine Northampton

The marquis's first-born son will reserve the right to his father's secondary title. In this example, he would be styled the Earl of Essex, or simply known as Essex among his friends. If the son is second-born, he is styled Lord Gabriel, but never Lord Carrey.

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Duke

Example: His Grace, William Howard, Duke of Norfolk

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Your Grace	My Lord Norfolk	My Lord, or Norfolk	William Norfolk, or Norfolk

Her Grace, Susanna the Duchess of Norfolk, is the duke's wife. Her maiden name is Clifford.

First Address	Formal	Informal	Correspondence
Your Grace	My Lady Norfolk	My Lady	Susanna Norfolk

The duke's eldest son, Paul, would be styled the Earl of Surrey, or simply known as Surrey among his friends.
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