Earl - Wikipedia

An earl has the title Earl of [X] when the title originates from a placename, or Earl [X] when the title comes from a surname. In either case, he is referred to as Lord [X], and his wife as Lady [X].

Earl | British Nobility, Titles & Ranks | Britannica

Earl is the oldest title and rank of English nobles, and it was also the highest, until 1337, when Edward the Black Prince was created duke of Cornwall by Edward III.

What's the Difference Between a Duke and an Earl?

Britain's peerage system, which dates to Anglo-Saxon times, consists of five ranks: duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron, according to Debrett's, a leading source of information on the British peerage system.

EARL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

The meaning of EARL is a member of the British peerage ranking below a marquess and above a viscount.

What is an Earl? - Lordship Titles

The word "earl" comes from the Old English word "eorl," which means "warrior" or "nobleman." Earls typically hold land known as an earldom, but they may also hold other titles, such as baron or viscount.

What Did an English Earl Actually Do? - History Facts

Known as the peerage system, this noble hierarchy consists of five ranks today: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron. The title of earl — the oldest in the peerage system — dates back to the end of the early medieval period, during the reign of King Canute (or Cnut) in the 11th century.

EARL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

EARL definition: 1. (the title of) a British man of high social rank, between a marquis and a viscount: 2. (the…. Learn more.

earl, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary

When a duke or a marquess has an earldom as his second title, this is ‘by courtesy’ given to his eldest son: thus the heir of the Duke of Northumberland is Earl Percy while that of the Marquess of Winchester is the Earl of Wiltshire.

EARL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

EARL definition: a British nobleman of a rank below that of marquis and above that of viscount: called count for a time after the Norman conquest. The wife of an earl is a countess. See examples of earl used in a sentence.

EARL definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary

Earl in American English (ɜːrl) noun a male given name: from the old English word meaning “ noble ”