A Brief Explanation of British Titles
| Title and Address | Eldest Son and Address | Eldest Son’s Wife and Address | Younger Son Title and Address | Younger Son’s Wife Title and Address | Daughters |
| Duke: Your Grace. Never Lord Anything | Courtesy Title lesser of father’s like marquess or Earl. Lord Title | Lady Title | Lord Firstname | Lady husband’s firstname | Lady firstname; Never Lady Surname
|
| Marquess (Marquis) Lord Title | Courtesy Title lesser of Fathers. Lord Title | Lady Title | Lord Firstname | Lady Husband’s Firstname | Lady Firstname, not Lady Surname
|
| Earl: Lord Title | Courtesy Title from Father: Lord Title | Lady Title | Mr. Family Surname | Mrs. Lady Surname | Lady Firstname, not Lady Surname
|
| Viscount: Lord Title | Mr. Surname | Mrs. Surname | Mr. Surname | Mrs. Surname | Miss Surname for oldest; Miss Firstname younger; Never Lady anything until marriage title |
| Baron: Lord Title; Often same as Surname | Mr. Surname | Mrs. Surname | Mr. Surname | Mrs. Surname | |
| Baronet: Hereditary Knight. Sir Firstname, never Sir Surname | Mr. Surname | Mrs. | Mr. | Mrs. | Surname for oldest; Miss Firstname younger; Never Lady anything until marriage title |
| Knight: Same as Baronet, but son does not inherit the title |
The daughter of a duke, marquess, or earl can keep Lady Firstname if she marries a man of lesser rank like a baronet, knight, or no title at all. She will still not be known by Lady Surname, esp. not Lady Marriedname.
If a wife gives birth within ten months of her husband’s death, that child is presumed to be the husband’s. If it is a boy, then it inherits even if a younger son is around.
Any child born within wedlock, unless the husband could not have been the father such as is out of the country ten months or more before the birth, is legitimate.
NO One can give away a title. A person could refuse to use it, but then the title remains dormant until the next in line to the succession picks it up.
Adopted children did not inherit titles.