Our enquirers frequently ask us questions about higher dignities and courtesy titles. Feudal
titles in order of seniority run: barony, lordship, earldom, marquisate, viscountcy and
dukedom.  For the purposes of this discussion, we can discount feudal marquisates,
viscountcies and dukedoms; we have never offered one of these titles and do not expect
ever to be able to offer one, unfortunately.

The male holder of a barony is correctly known as ‘John Smith, Baron of Strathglen,’ while a
female holder of the title would be ‘Martha Jones, Baroness of Strathglen,’ or ‘Lady Martha
of Strathglen.’ The wife of a male holder of a barony may use the courtesy title ‘Baroness of
Strathglen,’ or ‘Lady Martha of Strathglen.’ The eldest son of the Baron may use the
courtesy title ‘Younger of Strathglen’ while all unmarried daughters of the baron may be
known as ‘Miss Jane Smith of Strathglen.’ Unfortunately, the husband of a female holder of
a barony does not use a courtesy title. For a same-sex couple, the wife of a female holder of
a barony may use the same courtesy title as above: ‘Baroness of Strathglen,’ or ‘Lady
Martha of Strathglen. The husband of a male holder of a barony uses xxxx

As a lordship is a higher dignity than a barony, the holder of the ‘Lordship of Strathglen’ may
use the titles as described above, in addition to the options for the holder of a lordship. The
male holder of the lordship may use ‘John Smith, Lord of Strathglen,’ or ‘John Smith Feudal
Lord of Strathglen.’ The female holder of the lordship can use ‘Martha Jones, Lady of
Strathglen,’ or ‘Martha Jones, Feudal Lady of Strathglen.’ The wife of the male holder of the
Feudal Lordship of Strathglen may use the courtesy title ‘Martha Jones, Lady of Strathglen,’
or ‘Martha Jones, Feudal Lady of Strathglen.’ Again, the husband of the female holder of
the title does not normally use a courtesy title. Same-sex couples…

The holder of a feudal earldom may use the titles above or a man may use ‘John Smith, Earl
of Strathglen,’ or ‘John Smith Feudal Earl of Strathglen.’ The latter is particularly useful if
there is a peerage earl with the same title as it clearly differentiates. The female holder of
the earldom may use ‘Martha Jones, Countess of Strathglen,’ or ‘Martha Jones, Feudal
Countess of Strathglen.’ The wife of a male holder of a Feudal Earldom may use the courtesy
title ‘Martha Jones, Countess of Strathglen,’ or ‘Martha Jones, Feudal Countess of
Strathglen.’ The husband of a female holder of a feudal earldom does not use a courtesy
title.

Each passport authority has their own rules for noting titles. We therefore suggest you
contact your own passport issuing office if you would like to know how your title will be
listed on your own passport.