Count

A count is a nobleman in most of European countries, equivalent in rank to a British earl, whose wife is also still a "countess" (for lack of an Anglo-Saxon term). The word count comes from French comte which in turn comes from the Latin comitas, "companion" (of the emperor). In feudalism the territory ruled by a count was a county.

A woman having this title or the wife of a count is called countess.

 Other websites 

Heraldica.org - here the French peerage
Italian Titles of Nobility 
Webster's 1828 Dictionary 


Category:Noble titles