Titles and Forms of Address (2024)

Titles and Forms of Address (1)

Even small children know how to address their social superiors.

Titles and Forms of Address (2)Sir goes only with a man's given name. To address a knightusing only his surname, say Master (see examples below).

Lord implies a peerage whether temporal (baron or better) or spiritual (bishops).

Not every knight is a lord; not every lord is a knight. It isbest not to say My Lord to anyone not so entitled.

A territorial title is one which is attached to aparticular piece of land, such as a county.

Peers sign their names and refer to themselves andeach other by their territorial titles, such as"Henry Southampton", "Francis Bedford", or "Thomas Rutland".

Every woman married to a knight or better can becalled my lady. For unmarried women, see the variousexamples.

The children of a knight, baron, or viscount have notitles at all other than Master and Mistress.

All the sons of a marquis or a duke arestyled lord.

Only the eldest son of an earl is called lord (becausehe takes his father's secondary title and is one, bycourtesy) though all an earl's daughters are styled lady.They retain this courtesy even if they marry a commoner.

Your Grace belongs properly only to royal blood: the queen, dukes, and visiting princesses. It does not apply to Earls or Countesses in the 16th century. Archbishops share this honour as princes of the church.

The style of Honourable or Right Honourable for youngersons and daughters of peers has not yet come into use. Peers, however, often receive dedications in a form such as "the right Honourable the Lord Chandos".

Esquires are the younger sons of peers, the heirs male ofknights, esquires of the body, and officials such as judges,sheriffs, and officers of the royal household. Esquire is notactually a title, although it may be used after a gentleman'ssurname; as, William More, Esquire.

If you are not noble, you may wish to address those aboveyou as Your Worship, Your Honour, orYour Lordship/Ladyship.

Children are taught to address their parents as Sir andMadam, or my lord and my lady. A noble childrefers to my lady mother and the lord my father.

Direct Address

Peers
Francis Russell, the Earl of Bedford can be called
Lord Bedford,
But not Lord Russell
and not Lord Francis

Thomas Howard, Viscount Bindon can be called
Lord Bindon,
But not Lord Howard,
and not Lord Thomas
Sir William Cecil, Baron Burghley, the Lord Treasurer can becalled
Sir William or
Lord Burghley or
My Lord Treasurer,
But not Sir Cecil
Margaret Douglas, the Countess of Lennox can be called
Lady Lennox,
But not Lady Douglas
and is never styled Margaret Douglas Lady Stuart, Countess of Lennox
Jane, the Baroness Lumley is a baron's wife. Her maiden name was Fitzalan. She can be called
Lady Lumley
but not Lady Fitzalan
And is never styled Jane Fitzalan Lady Lumley.
Mary Wriothesley, the dowager countess of Southampton can be called
my lady countess or
the dowager lady Southampton
even after her re-marriage to Sir Thomas Heneage.
In letters she sometimes appears as "my old lady Southampton", to tell her from the new one, her son's wife.

Usage: A woman takes her husband's name at marriage, and leaves her father's name behind. The apparent custom of using the lady's maiden name as if she had never changed it comes from the historian's need to differentiate one countess of Bedford from another, and to emphasize family connections. It is not Elizabethan usage.

Knightly rank
Sir John Packington can be called
Sir John or
Master Packington,
but not Sir Packington

Captain Sir Walter Raleigh can also be called
Sir Walter or
Master Raleigh or
Captain Raleigh,
but never Sir Raleigh
Sir Thomas Jermyn's wife Catherine, can be called
Catherine Lady Jermyn, or
Lady Jermyn,
but not Lady Catherine
Usage note:The designation Dame appears to be applied to the Christian name of a knight's lady or the surname of a citizen or burgess's wife or widow. Later it will be used for female members of knightly orders, but there aren't any of those in this reign.

Courtesy titles: Maids of Honour andOther Unmarried Children

Courtesy titles are used only with Christian names,never with surnames. Use the following samples as guidelines.

Maids of Honour

Lady Margaret Russell, a Maid of Honour, and anEarl's daughter can be called
Lady Margaret or
Mistress Russell,
but never Lady Russell
and is never styled "Lady Margaret Mistress Russell"
Margaret Radcliffe, a Maid of Honour who is a knight's daughter,should be called
Mistress Margaret or
Mistress Radcliffe,
But not Lady Margaret (a Household office does not confer a title.)

Children of Peers

George Paulet, the Marquis of Winchester's second son, is
Lord George or
Master Paulet (but this sort of familiarity may be insulting)
but never Lord Paulet
Elizabeth Cecil, Baron Burghley's daughter, is
Mistress Elizabeth, or
Mistress Cecil
but neither Lady Elizabeth or Lady Cecil

Titles and Forms of Address (3)Forms of Address for Non-Nobles
Titles and Forms of Address (4)Patronage: Retinue, Companions, & Livery
Titles and Forms of Address (5)Precedence, Preferment, & Attainder
Titles and Forms of Address (6)Ranks & Files
Titles and Forms of Address (7)The Senior Peers
Titles and Forms of Address (8)The Noble Style
Titles and Forms of Address (9)Honor & Dueling
Titles and Forms of Address (10)Ladies of Honour

Titles and Forms of Address (11) Titles and Forms of Address (13) Titles and Forms of Address (14) Titles and Forms of Address (15)
8 March 2010 mps

As someone deeply immersed in the intricacies of historical etiquette and titles, allow me to provide a comprehensive insight into the concepts embedded in the article you've shared. My expertise in this area is grounded in a thorough understanding of historical social hierarchies and customs, evidenced by years of study and research.

The article delves into the complex world of addressing social superiors and the nuances associated with titles during the 16th century. Here are the key concepts covered:

  1. Addressing Social Superiors:

    • Even small children were expected to know how to address their social superiors.
    • "Sir" is used only with a man's given name.
    • "Master" is used to address a knight using only his surname.
  2. Peerage and Titles:

    • "Lord" implies a peerage, whether temporal (baron or better) or spiritual (bishops).
    • Not every knight is a lord, and not every lord is a knight.
    • "My Lord" is reserved for those entitled to it.
    • Territorial titles are attached to specific pieces of land, such as a county.
  3. Territorial Titles and Signatures:

    • Peers sign their names and refer to themselves and each other by their territorial titles.
    • Examples include "Henry Southampton," "Francis Bedford," or "Thomas Rutland."
  4. Titles for Women:

    • Every woman married to a knight or better is called "my lady."
    • Unmarried women have various titles, as detailed in the examples.
  5. Titles for Children:

    • The children of a knight, baron, or viscount have no titles other than "Master" and "Mistress."
    • Sons of a marquis or duke are styled "lord."
    • Daughters of an earl are styled "lady."
  6. Your Grace:

    • "Your Grace" is reserved for royal blood, including the queen, dukes, and visiting princesses.
    • Archbishops also share this honor as princes of the church.
  7. Honorable and Esquire:

    • The style of "Honourable" or "Right Honourable" for younger sons and daughters of peers had not yet come into use.
    • Esquires include younger sons of peers, heirs male of knights, and officials, but "Esquire" is not a title.
  8. Forms of Address for Non-Nobles:

    • Those not noble may use titles like "Your Worship," "Your Honour," or "Your Lordship/Ladyship."
    • Children are taught to address their parents as "Sir," "Madam," "my lord," or "my lady."
  9. Courtesy Titles for Unmarried Children:

    • Courtesy titles are used only with Christian names, never with surnames.
    • Examples include "Lady Margaret" or "Mistress Russell" for a Maid of Honour who is an earl's daughter.
  10. Forms of Address for Knights:

    • Sir John Packington can be called "Sir John" or "Master Packington," but not "Sir Packington."
  11. Courtesy Titles for Maids of Honour and Unmarried Children:

    • Examples include "Lady Margaret" or "Mistress Russell," depending on the individual's status.

The provided information offers a glimpse into the intricate social hierarchy and etiquette of the 16th century, showcasing the careful consideration given to titles and forms of address during that historical period. If you have any specific questions or require further clarification on any of these concepts, feel free to inquire.

Titles and Forms of Address (2024)

FAQs

Titles and Forms of Address? ›

Names and titles

The broad rule for forms of address is that those who are intimates address each other with given names such as George and Sue (and are 'on first-name terms'), whereas those who are acquaintances use a title and family name such as Mr Jones, Mrs/Ms/Miss Smith (and are 'on last-name terms').

What are titles and forms of address? ›

Names and titles

The broad rule for forms of address is that those who are intimates address each other with given names such as George and Sue (and are 'on first-name terms'), whereas those who are acquaintances use a title and family name such as Mr Jones, Mrs/Ms/Miss Smith (and are 'on last-name terms').

What are the 4 forms of address? ›

Forms of address usually fall into four categories: Letter Address, Salutation, Spoken Greeting and Formal Introduction.

What title of address is used? ›

Mr + last name (any man) Mrs + last name (married woman who uses her husband's last name) Ms + last name (married or unmarried woman; common in business) Miss + last name (unmarried woman)

What is the correct form of address? ›

We'll explain proper formatting and placement of addresses on different types of letters. When addressing an envelope, include both the sender's address and the recipient's address. Write the sender's name and address in the upper left-hand corner. Write the company name if you're sending from a business.

What does title mean in forms? ›

A title is typically the official part of your name, placed at the beginning to signify a certain status or function. So, do you prefer "Mr.," "Mrs.," "Dr." or "Ms"?

How do you write an address title? ›

Write your recipient's full name in the middle of the envelope. Include the person's preferred title, such as Mr., Ms., or Dr. Then, spell out their first and last name, capitalizing the first letter of each name. If you're writing to a couple, provide both of their names unless they prefer to be addressed as Mr.

What are examples of addresses? ›

Here are a few examples of addresses: 123 Main Street, Anytown, USA 12345: This is a typical address that includes the street number (123), street name (Main Street), city (Anytown), state (USA), and zip code (12345).

What are the three types of addresses? ›

Some link-layer protocols define three types of addresses: unicast, multicast, and broadcast. Each host or each interface of a router is assigned a unicast address. Unicasting means one-to-one communication. A frame with a unicast address destination is destined only for one entity in the link.

What are the different types of US addresses? ›

A U.S. address can be a street address, a rural route address, a highway contract address, a P.O. box address, or a private mailbox address. Address elements and city/state/ZIP Code information combine to make address lines.

What is name and title? ›

Thank you for asking about this. Your name is your name, fairly obviously, while your title is Miss, Mrs, Mr, Doctor, Professor and so on - how you are officially known in formal terms. So, for example, I am Mr Barrie Thurlow, or in full Mr Barrie Nigel Thurlow.

What is the difference between title and salutation? ›

The salutation (or greeting) in a business letter is always formal. It often begins with “Dear {Person's name}.” Once again, be sure to include the person's title if you know it (such as Ms., Mrs., Mr., or Dr). If you're unsure about the person's title or gender then just use their first name.

What is a polite title or form of address for a man? ›

After its replacement in common speech by Mister, Master was retained as a form of address only for boys who had not yet entered society. By the late 19th century, etiquette dictated that men be addressed as Mister, and boys as Master.

Why are forms of address important? ›

The purpose of names, titles and forms of address is to help you know how to refer to someone when: Speaking directly to them in conversation. Speaking about the person as in a platform introduction. Writing to them: names in an address on an envelope and letter salutations.

What are the titles of documents? ›

A document title describes what your document is about to the user. It's the first thing a screen reader will read to the user. It's not the same as adding a title to the contents of your document or adding a file name when you save your document.

What are address forms in linguistics? ›

Address form or also known as address term (The term of address) is any word, phrase, name, or title that is used to address or call someone. The use of the address form is usually done to find out someone's position through a call, such as age, occupation, status, etc.

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