An earl is a title and rank within the British nobility and peerage system. Equivalent to the French comte or German Graf (count), it represents a significant position within the historical hierarchy. While the title of earl no longer grants official power or authority, it remains a hereditary distinction, passed down through generations. The title is inalienable, indivisible, and descends in regular succession to all the heirs under the limitation in the grant until, on their failure, it becomes extinct.
Historical Significance of the Earl
The term “earl” represents the oldest title among English nobles. Until 1337, it even held the highest rank. This changed when Edward the Black Prince was created Duke of Cornwall by Edward III. Now, the rank of Earl stands third in precedence, positioned between Marquess (created in 1385) and Viscount (created in 1440). The order of British nobility, in descending order, is Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron.
The title itself boasts Scandinavian origins. It first appeared in England under Canute (1016–35) as jarl, which evolved into the Anglo-Saxon eorl. The eorl functioned as a high-ranking royal officer, superseding the ealdorman. They were sometimes placed in charge of several counties, presiding over the courts of each alongside the bishop of the diocese.
Following the Norman Conquest, the earl’s influence became confined to a single county. The sheriff gradually assumed their official duties, a position that the earl himself might often hold. Despite this shift, the earl generally retained the right to the “third penny,” a third of the profits generated from justice within the shire court.
Earldoms Palatinate: Chester and Durham
The earldoms of Chester and Durham held a unique status as palatinate earldoms. In these regions, the earl and bishop, respectively, possessed regalia and exercised special royal privileges. They maintained their own courts and exercised their own jurisdiction independently.
The earl’s hereditary position was further cemented by the system of feudal tenure. As a tenant-in-chief, the earl held estates directly from the crown. The fief would descend to the heirs of his body, exemplified by early charters such as the one granted by Stephen to Geoffrey de Mandeville, creating him Earl of Essex around 1140. These earldoms were granted with similar limitations.
Consequently, the dignity could pass to a woman. In such instances, her husband would hold the title in right of his wife, mirroring the inheritance of territorial fiefs. The earldom of Warwick, for example, passed through multiple families in this manner until Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, acquired it in 1449 through his marriage to the heiress of the former earls. In cases involving coheiresses (multiple daughters), the king determined which daughter, if any, would inherit the dignity.
Evolution of Earldoms
During the later Middle Ages, the use of letters patent gradually replaced other methods of creating earls. These letters restricted the succession to male heirs of the grantee. From the creation of the earldom of March in 1328 onward, titles started to detach from territorial associations. This paved the way for the later practice of simply appending the surname to the title, such as Earl Poulett, Earl Temple, Earl Lloyd-George, Earl Attlee, and Earl Macmillan.
Scotland retained medieval practices for a longer duration. It wasn’t until 1600 that letters patent were used to create an earldom (Winton). This explains the scarcity of extinct ancient Scottish earldoms, given their almost unlimited right of succession. The girding with the sword served as the sole ceremony at an earl’s investiture until the reign of Edward VI (1547–53), when the imposition of the cap of dignity and a circlet of gold was added. Under James I, the patent of creation was deemed sufficient without any ceremony (1615). An earl’s robe of estate features three bars of ermine on the cape.
Current Earldoms and Forms of Address
Since 1301, the earldom of Chester has been held by the Princes of Wales. The Scottish earldom of Carrick was granted to the eldest son of the sovereign by an act of parliament in 1469. The premier earldom is that of Arundel (1139), although it is currently merged with the dukedom of Norfolk. The oldest earldom not merged with a higher title is that of Shrewsbury (1442), followed by Derby (1485) and Huntingdon (1529). According to the Union Roll of 1707, the premier earldom of Scotland is Crawford, held by the Lindsays since its creation in 1398. However, it is not one of the original seven Scottish earldoms, a claim disputed by the Earls of Mar.
An earl is addressed as “Right Honourable” and styled “My Lord.” His eldest son typically bears his father’s second title, often a viscountcy. In cases where there is no second title, such as with Devon and Huntingdon, a family name may be assumed for convenience. The eldest son of an earl, regardless of his title, always takes precedence immediately after the viscounts. The younger sons of earls are styled “Honourable,” while all daughters are styled “Lady.” In formal documents, the sovereign usually refers to an earl as “trusty and well-beloved cousin,” a practice initiated by Henry IV. The wife of an earl is a countess, addressed as “Right Honourable” and styled “My Lady.”
Equivalent Titles
Across Europe, the title of count (feminine countess) corresponds to the British earl. The term varies across different languages and countries, reflecting the diverse tapestry of European nobility.
