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 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.

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

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 …

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

1. 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

Jul 24, 2024 · 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 …

earl, n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

Definition of earl noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.