# Nobility Titles

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nobility-titles/170771>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 24, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nobility-titles/170771 "2003-04-24T03:35:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mipiace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@mipiace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mipiace)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nobility-titles/170771/1 "2003-04-24T03:35:29Z")

</div>

I didn’t want to hijack another thread but I wondered. What is the difference in these titles? No, not masculine to feminine, but what is the difference between an Earl and a Viscount etc.  
Duke/Duchess  
Marquess/\*  
Earl\*\*/Countess  
Viscount/Viscountess  
Baron/Baroness

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nobility-titles/170771/2 "2003-04-24T04:00:58Z")

</div>

I’d say one of the main differences is in the [order of precedence.](http://laura.chinet.com/html/titles07.html)