This article is about the title of nobility. For the given name, see Earl (given name). For the surname, see Earl (surname). For other uses, see Earl (disambiguation).
Part of a series on
Peerages in the United Kingdom
Ranks
Duke / Duchess
Marquess / Marchioness
Earl / Countess
Viscount / Viscountess
Baron / Baroness (in Scotland, replaced by Lord / Lady of Parliament)
Types
Hereditary
Life
Representative
Divisions
England
Scotland
Great Britain
Ireland
United Kingdom
Topics
Nobility
Welsh
History
Privileges
Robes
Courtesy titles (list)
Forms of address
Family seat
Territorial designation
House of Lords
Politics portal
United Kingdom portal
v
t
e
Earl (/ɜːrl,ɜːrəl/)[1] is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. In modern Britain, an earl is a member of the peerage, ranking below a marquess and above a viscount.[2] A feminine form of earl never developed; instead, countess is used.
The title originates in the Old English word eorl, meaning "a man of noble birth or rank".[3] The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form jarl. After the Norman Conquest, it became the equivalent of the continental count. In Scotland, it assimilated the concept of mormaer. In modern times, earldoms have typically been created only for members of the royal family. The last non-royal earldom, Earl of Stockton, was created in 1984 for Harold Macmillan, prime minister from 1957 to 1963.
Alternative names for the rank equivalent to "earl" or "count" in the nobility structure are used in other countries, such as the hakushaku (伯爵) of the post-restoration Japanese Imperial era.
^"Earl". Collins Dictionary. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
^Stevenson 2007.
^"Earl". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
Earl (/ɜːrl, ɜːrəl/) is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. In modern Britain, an earl is a member of the peerage, ranking below a marquess and...
The title of Earl of Wigtown (or Wigton or Wigtoun) was created twice in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation was in 1341 for Malcolm Fleming, and...
The title of Earl of Ulster has been created six times in the Peerage of Ireland and twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since 1928, the title...
Earl of Ruglen was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. Along with the subsidiary titles Viscount of Riccartoun and Lord Hillhouse, it was created on the...
Earl Grey tea is a tea blend which has been flavoured with oil of bergamot. The rind's fragrant oil is added to black tea to give Earl Grey its unique...
is variously described by historians as Earl of Northumbria, Earl of Bernicia (northern Northumbria) and Earl of Bamburgh, his stronghold on the Northumbrian...
Earl Warren (March 19, 1891 – July 9, 1974) was an American lawyer, politician, and jurist who served as the 30th governor of California from 1943 to 1953...
Earl of Suffolk is a title which has been created four times in the Peerage of England. The first creation, in tandem with the creation of the title of...
Earl of Loudoun (pronounced "loud-on" /ˈlaʊdən/), named after Loudoun in Ayrshire, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for John...
Earl Township may refer to: Earl Township, LaSalle County, Illinois Earl Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania...
My Name Is Earl is an American television sitcom created by Greg Garcia that aired on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009...
Earl of Sandwich is a noble title in the Peerage of England, held since its creation by the House of Montagu. It is nominally associated with Sandwich...
The title of Earl of Hereford was created six times in the Peerage of England. Dates indicate the years the person held the title for. Swegen Godwinson...
Earl of Denbigh (pronounced 'Denby') is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1622 for William Feilding, Viscount Feilding, a courtier,...
Earl of Shaftesbury is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1672 for Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Baron Ashley, a prominent politician in...
The title of Earl of Gloucester was created several times in the Peerage of England. A fictional earl is also a character in William Shakespeare's play...
Earl of Rosebery is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created in 1703 for Archibald Primrose, 1st Viscount of Rosebery, with remainder to his issue male...
Devonshire (neither peerage is related to the ancient title of Earl of Devon). The first Earl may have chosen "Devonshire" simply because places and lands...
Earl of Minto, in the County of Roxburgh, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1813 for Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound...
Earl of Mansfield, in the County of Nottingham, and Earl of Mansfield, in the County of Middlesex, are two titles in the Peerage of Great Britain that...
Earl of Shrewsbury (/ˈʃroʊzbəri/) is a hereditary title of nobility created twice in the Peerage of England. The second earldom dates to 1442. The holder...
Earl Marshal (alternatively marschal or marischal) is a hereditary royal officeholder and chivalric title under the sovereign of the United Kingdom used...
Earl of Dorset is a title that has been created at least four times in the Peerage of England. Some of its holders have at various times also held the...
Earl of Callendar was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1641 for James Livingston, 1st Lord Livingston of Almond, a younger son of...
precedence among earls is: Earls in the Peerage of England Earls in the Peerage of Scotland Earls in the Peerage of Great Britain Earls in the Peerage of...