Proper Titles: A Regency History guide to dukes, marquesses and other honorifics

(by Rachel Knowles)
DUKE / DUCHESS
A duke’s title always relates to a place and not his family name eg The Duke of Richmond rather than the Duke of Lennox.
Let us use the fictitious example of George Hampton, Duke of Wessex, to illustrate. The duke would be formally referred to as His Grace, the Most Noble Duke of Wessex.
When a duke’s daughter marries, her title will depend on the status of her husband.

MARQUESSES
Either marquess or marquis can be used for this title. I am choosing to stick to the older, British designation of marquess.
These titles are usually taken from the name of a place and in most cases the preposition ‘of’ is used eg The Marquess of Lansdowne. There are a few exceptions eg The Marquess Conyngham (from a family name and without the ‘of’ The Marquess Douro (from a place name but still without the ‘of’).
Let us use the fictitious example of George Hampton, Marquess of Denmead, to illustrate. The marquess would be formally designated The Most Honourable The Marquess of Denmead but would normally be referred to as Lord Denmead.

EARLS
The title of earl may be taken from a place name or a family name. If a place name is used, the preposition ‘of’ is usually used; if a family name, ‘of’ is not usually used.
Let us use the fictitious example of Robert Hampton, Earl Hampton, to illustrate. The earl would be formally designated The Right Honourable The Earl Hampton but would normally be referred to as Lord Hampton.

VISCOUNTS
The title of viscount may be taken from a place name or a family name. The preposition ‘of’ is only used between the style and the title in the names of some Scottish peers.
Let us use the fictitious example of Francis Hampton, Viscount Hampton, to illustrate. The viscount would be formally designated The Right Honourable The Viscount Hampton but would normally be referred to as Lord Hampton.

BARONS
The title of baron or baroness may be taken from a place name, a family name or something else.
Let us use the fictitious example of James Hampton, Baron Hampton, to illustrate. The baron would be formally designated The Right Honourable Lord Hampton but would normally be referred to as Lord Hampton.

Baronesses and other peeresses in their own right
There are some peerages which descend in the female line. These are mostly baronies. The husband of a peeress in her own right takes no title from his wife but the children are treated in the same way as if their father possessed the title.
(Courtesy titles of eldest sons: Typically, a duke has various other titles besides his dukedom. His eldest son takes the rank of a marquess – the next grade down of the peerage – but his courtesy title will depend on the other titles that his father has at his disposal. He takes the highest of these as his courtesy title eg the heir to the Duke of Devonshire takes the title of the Marquess of Hartington whereas the heir to the Duke of Norfolk takes the title of the Earl of Surrey.

This designation does not make him a peer (so he cannot sit in the House of Lords) but in every other respect this title is treated in the same way as if he were a member of the peerage.

These rules also apply to the eldest sons of marquesses and earls but not to those of viscounts even if they have a barony as well. If a duke, marquess or earl does not have a subsidiary title, his eldest son uses the family name as his courtesy title. Note that it is only direct heirs that are entitled to use a subsidiary title, so if the duke’s heir is, for example, a cousin, rather than a son or grandson, he will not have a courtesy title.)
https://www.regencyhistory.net/2018/08/dukes-marquesses-and-other-titles.html
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 https://www.susannedietze.com/british-forms-of-address.html#:~:text=In%20the%20Regency%20period%2C%20the,Earl%2C%20Viscount%2C%20and%20Baron.

There are five different ranks in the British peerage: 1) dukes, 2) marquesses, 3) earls, 4) viscounts and 5) barons. Baronets are hereditary titles but are not members of the peerage.

1) The duke would be formally referred to as His/Her Grace, the Most Noble Duke/Duchess of Wessex.
2) The marquess would be formally designated The Most Honourable The Marquess/Marchioness of Denmead but would normally be referred to as Lord/Lady Denmead.
3) The earl would be formally designated The Right Honourable The Earl/Countess Hampton but would normally be referred to as Lord/Lady Hampton.
4) The viscount would be formally designated The Right Honourable The Viscount/Viscountess Hampton but would normally be referred to as Lord/Lady Hampton.
5) The baron would be formally designated The Right Honourable Lord/Lady Hampton but would normally be referred to as Lord/Lady Hampton.
However, in all but the most formal situations, this is usually shortened to a simple ‘The’. ________________________________

Type

Nobility, Honorific / Ceremonial