etymology - Why is the feminine equivalent of an earl a countess rather than an earless? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange Why is the feminine equivalent of an earl a countess rather than an earless? up vote 5 down vote favorite 1 A comment by Tim Lymington notes that the wife of an earl is a countess. Why is this so? Shouldn't it have been earless? Was this perhaps a conscious decision due to its homography with ear-less ? Did a jarl ever have a jarless? Ah. Perhaps not. 1 -ess is a suffix from French; the most common Germanic suffix is -in, so if there were an inherited feminine form of jarl it would probably be jarlin. One can speculate that this would have come into English as earlen (the only desinence of -in I can think of in English is vixen, from fox). – Colin Fine Jan 19 '13 at 19:41 up vote 5 down vote The male version of countess is sometimes count.

From Wikipedia : The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem— meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is "comital". The British and Irish equivalent is an earl (whose wife is a "countess", for lack of an English term). An earl was originally another title, but later came to be equivalent to count: An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke (hertig/hertug). In later medieval Britain, it became the equivalent of the continental count (in England in the earlier period, it was more akin to duke; in Scotland it assimilated the concept of mormaer). ... The Norman-derived equivalent "count" was not introduced following the Norman Conquest of England though "countess" was and is used for the female title.

As Geoffrey Hughes writes, "It is a likely speculation that the Norman French title 'Count' was abandoned in England in favour of the Germanic 'Earl' […] precisely because of the uncomfortable phonetic proximity to cunt". 1 To further complicate things: "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]. A countess who holds an earldom in her own right also uses Lady [X], but her husband does not have a title (unless he has one in his own right)." – Hugo Jan 19 '13 at 6:32 Thanks! So, the reason is "for lack of a better term"? How dull :( Any idea what female jarls were called? – coleopterist Jan 19 '13 at 7:18 1 As far as I can tell, jarls were only men with no special title for their wives, although the first ever female Guizer Jarl was chosen in 2010, there's no mention of a feminine title.

shetlandtimes.co.uk/2010/11/01/… (But this actual title only dates from 1906, the role was only created in 1881, and some say it's "based upon a flawed Viking perspective".) – Hugo Jan 19 '13 at 7:32 1 Before the title died out, jarl was also used for a higher rank in Scandinavia, including rulers of petty kingdoms. I imagine it is for this reason that we normally translate Greve and Lensgreve as Count rather than Earl even though the latter would be a more "complete" translation into English. – Jon Hanna Jan 19 '13 at 14:09 So referring to, for example, Charles Spencer, brother of Diana, in a sentence, one would use his name, "Charles Spencer", as I just did, or "Lord Spencer", but not "Earl Spencer"? Example, "I was in Marks and Sparks the other day when I happened to see Lord Spencer shopping for unmentionables". Not "I was in Marks and Sparks the other day when I happened to see Earl Spencer...". Is that right?

Or is it "the Earl Spencer", with the definite article? Is Lord/Lady [X] a form of address only? – Steven Solomon Aug 29 '15 at 0:41 Earl | Define Earl at Dictionary.com earl noun 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. 2. (in Anglo-Saxon England) a governor of one of the great divisions of England, including East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, and Wessex. Origin of earl Old English 900 before 900; Middle English erl, Old English eorl; cognate with Old Saxon erl man, Old Norse jarl chieftain Earl a male given name: from the old English word meaning “noble.”. Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for earl Expand Contemporary Examples His wife is the niece of an earl who once worked as a lady-in-waiting to a royal duchess.

The Kensington District Geraldine Edith Mitton He could remember clearly now, the earl's explanations of the action of the coronet. Millennium Everett B. Cole The Smuggler's Cave George A. Birmingham He thought of the names he had heard used by the guards of the earl. Millennium Everett B. Cole British Dictionary definitions for earl Expand noun 1. (in the British Isles) a nobleman ranking below a marquess and above a viscount Female equivalent countess 2. (in Anglo-Saxon England) a royal governor of any of the large divisions of the kingdom, such as Wessex Word Origin Old English eorl; related to Old Norse jarl chieftain, Old Saxon erl man Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for earl Expand n.

Old English eorl "brave man, warrior, leader, chief" (contrasted with ceorl "churl"), from Proto-Germanic *erlo-z, of uncertain origin. In Anglo-Saxon poetry, "a warrior, a brave man;" in later Old English, "nobleman," especially a Danish under-king (equivalent of cognate Old Norse jarl), then one of the viceroys under the Danish dynasty in England. After 1066 adopted as the equivalent of Latin comes (see count (n.)). Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Earl Titles | Count and Countess Titles for Sale Contact and Social Media information Earl, Count and Countess Titles An earl is the nobility ranking that lies between a marquis and a viscount. It is the English equivalent of the European title “count” and has rich associations with British royalty. After all, when you think of famous earls, counts and countesses, whose name comes to mind?

In addition to fictional characters such as Count Dracula and the Count of Monte Cristo, perhaps you’ll think of Earl Spencer (the brother of Princess Diana), or maybe the Countess of Wessex (wife of Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest child)? What is clear is that these titles are closely associated with famous, high status individuals. Here are some quick definitions to help explain the origin and meaning of these popular titles: Earl: Originating from the Norse word “jarl” (meaning leader), earl is the English equivalent of the European title, “count”. Count: Is a European title of nobility that’s popular with Italian clients. Related to the English word “county”, a count is essentially the principal figure of a county. Countess: Is the female equivalent of an earl and a count. This title can be used by an unmarried woman in her own right, or by the wife of a man who is an earl or a count. Who else wants to become a count, countess or an earl? If you’d like to become a count, countess or an earl for show purposes, Elite Titles makes it easy... First, choose either the Seated or Non-seated options.

Next, purchase your new “title” from us. We’ll seamlessly handle all the legalities involved with changing your title, and in return, you’ll receive a beautifully presented Document Pack along with all the details you need, to start using and enjoying your new title immediately. “I just wanted to express my gratitude for the superb service you have provided. The documents have arrived and my father, who I got this for as a 70th birthday gift, was over the moon!... Your service has exceeded my expectations, many thanks!” DS - UK (October 2011) “Needless to say, we are incredibly pleased with your service and will relish our new titles. You perform a spectacular service and I greatly appreciate the fact that you personally attend to all the correspondence and respond so quickly. This was indeed a lovely find for us and we will of course recommend your services highly to anyone who might have any interest. Respectfully.” Earl and Countess - USA (August 2013) What fun could an Elite Title bring to your life? Why not become an earl, a count or a countess today and find out for yourself...

Earl E Earl Earl was the Anglo-Saxon form and jarl the Scandinavian form of a title meaning "chieftain" and referring especially to chieftains set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke (hertig/hertug); in later medieval Britain, it became the equivalent of the continental count (in England in the earlier period, it was more akin to duke, while in Scotland it assimilated the concept of mormaer). In modern Britain , an earl is a member of the peerage , ranking below a marquess and above a viscount. The English never developed a feminine form of earl; the wife of an earl is styled countess (the continental equivalent). Etymology See also Ríg for the account in Norse mythology of the warrior Jarl or Ríg-Jarl presented as the ancestor of the class of warrior-nobles. According to Procopius, the Heruli, after having raided the European continent for several generations, returned to Scandinavia in 512 AD as a result of military defeats.

As their old territory was now occupied by the Danes, they settled next to the Geats in present-day Sweden. While the Proto-Norse word for this mysterious tribe may have been erilaz, which is etymologically near "jarl" and "earl", and it has often been suggested they introduced the runes in Scandinavia, no elaborate theory exists to explain how the word came to be used as a title. Arguably, their knowledge in interpreting runes also meant they were gifted in martial arts and, as they gradually integrated, eril or jarl instead came to signify the rank of a leader. The Norman-derived equivalent "count" was not introduced following the Norman Conquest of England though "countess" was and is used for the female title. As Geoffrey Hughes writes, "It is a likely speculation that the Norman French title 'Count' was abandoned in England in favour of the Germanic 'Earl' […] precisely because of the uncomfortable phonetic proximity to cunt". The Irish, Scottish Gaelic , and Welsh words for "count" or "earl" (iarla in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, iarll in Welsh) are all descended from English "earl" or one of its ancestors.

In Scotland the word earl was used in English to refer to a mormaer. Earls in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth See also List of earldoms Forms of address 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]. A countess who holds an earldom in her own right also uses Lady [X], but her husband does not have a title (unless he has one in his own right). The eldest son of an earl, though not himself a peer , is entitled to use a courtesy title, usually the highest of his father's lesser titles (if any); younger sons are styled The Honourable [Forename] [Surname], and daughters The Lady [Forename] [Surname] (Lady Diana Spencer being a well-known example). England Changing power of English earls In Anglo-Saxon England , earls had authority over their own regions and right of judgement in provincial courts, as delegated by the king. They collected fines and taxes and in return received a "third penny", one-third of the money they collected.

In wartime they led the king's armies. Some shires were grouped together into larger units known as earldoms, headed by an ealdorman or earl. Under Edward the Confessor earldoms like Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia and Northumbria—names that represented earlier independent kingdoms—were much larger than any shire. Earls originally functioned essentially as royal governors. Though the title of Earl was nominally equal to the continental duke, unlike them earls were not de facto rulers in their own right. After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror tried to rule England using the traditional system but eventually modified it to his own liking. Shires became the largest secular subdivision in England and earldoms disappeared. The Normans did create new earls like those of Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Cheshire but they were associated with only a single shire at most. Their power and regional jurisdiction was limited to that of the Norman counts. There was no longer any administrative layer larger than the shire, and shires became "counties". Earls no longer aided in tax collection or made decisions in country courts and their numbers were small.

King Stephen increased the number of earls to reward those loyal to him in his war with his cousin Empress Matilda. He gave some earls the right to hold royal castles or control the sheriff and soon other earls assumed these rights themselves. By the end of his reign, some earls held courts of their own and even minted their own coins, against the wishes of the king. It fell to Stephen's successor Henry II to again curtail the power of earls. He took back the control of royal castles and even demolished castles that earls had built for themselves. He did not create new earls or earldoms. No earl was allowed to remain independent of royal control. The English kings had found it dangerous to give additional power to an already powerful aristocracy , so gradually sheriffs assumed the governing role. The details of this transition remain obscure, since earls in more peripheral areas, such as the Scottish and Welsh marches and Cornwall, retained some viceregal powers long after other earls had lost them. The loosening of central authority during the Anarchy also complicates any smooth description of the changeover.

By the 13th century, earls had a social rank just below the king and princes, but were not necessarily more powerful or wealthier than other noblemen. The only way to become an earl was to inherit the title or marry into one—and the king reserved a right to prevent the transfer of the title. By the 14th century, creating an earl included a special public ceremony where the king personally tied a sword belt around the waist of the new earl, emphasizing the fact that the earl's rights came from him. Earls still held influence and as "companions of the king", were regarded as supporters of the king's power. They showed that power for the first time in 1327 when they deposed Edward II. They would later do the same with other kings they disapproved of. Still, the number of earls remained the same until 1337 when Edward III declared that he intended to create six new earldoms. Earls, land and titles A loose connection between earls and shires remained for a long time after authority had moved over to the sheriffs.

An official defining characteristic of an earl still consisted of the receipt of the "third penny", one-third of the revenues of justice of a shire, that later became a fixed sum. Thus every earl had an association with some shire, and very often a new creation of an earldom would take place in favour of the county where the new earl already had large estates and local influence. Also, due to the association of earls and shires, the medieval practice could remain somewhat loose regarding the precise name used: no confusion could arise by calling someone earl of a shire, earl of the county town of the shire, or earl of some other prominent place in the shire; these all implied the same. So there were the "earl of Shrewsbury" (Shropshire), "earl of Arundel", "earl of Chichester" (Sussex), "earl of Winchester" (Hampshire), etc. In a few cases the earl was traditionally addressed by his family name, e.g. the "earl Warenne" (in this case the practice may have arisen because these earls had little or no property in Surrey, their official county).

Thus an earl did not always have an intimate association with "his" county. Another example comes from the earls of Oxford, whose property largely lay in Essex. They became earls of Oxford because earls of Essex and of the other nearby shires already existed. Eventually the connection between an earl and a shire disappeared, so that in the present day a number of earldoms take their names from towns, mountains, or simply surnames. Nevertheless, some consider that the earldoms named after counties (or county towns) retain more prestige. Order of precedence List of English earls in order of precedence Earl of Warrington Earl of Bute Welsh Earls Scotland The oldest earldoms in Scotland originated from the office of mormaer, such as the Mormaer of Fife, of Strathearn, etc; later earldoms developed by analogy. Coronet A British earl is entitled to a coronet bearing eight strawberry leaves (four visible) and eight silver balls (or pearls) around the rim (five visible). The actual coronet is mostly worn on certain ceremonial occasions, but an Earl can bear his coronet of rank on his coat of arms above the shield.

Scandinavia Norway In mediæval Norway , the title of jarl was the highest rank below the king himself. The jarl was the only one beside the king himself who was entitled to have a hird (large armed retinue). There was usually no more than one jarl in mainland Norway at any one time, sometimes none. The ruler of the Norwegian dependency of Orkney held the title of jarl, and after Iceland had acknowledged Norwegian overlordship in 1261, a jarl was sent there as well as the king's high representative. In mainland Norway the title jarl was usually used for one of two purposes: To appoint a de facto ruler in cases where the king was a minor or seriously ill (e.g. Håkon galen in 1204 during the minority of king Guttorm, Skule Bårdsson in 1217 during the illness of king Inge Bårdsson). To appease a pretender to the throne without giving him the title of king (e.g. Eirik, the brother of king Sverre). In 1237, jarl Skule Bårdsson was given the rank of duke (hertug).

This was the first time this title had been used in Norway, and meant that the title jarl was no longer the highest rank below the king. It also heralded the introduction of new noble titles from continental Europe, which were to replace the old Norse titles. The last jarl in mainland Norway was appointed in 1295 Some Norwegian jarls: jarl Toste Skule Tostesson, killed by peasants near Haverö church in 12th century. Erling skakke, father of king Magnus Erlingsson Hakon galen Sweden The usage of the title in Sweden was similar to Norway's. Known jarls from the 12th and 13 century were Birger Brosa, Jon jarl, Folke Birgersson, Karl Döve, Ulf Fase and the most powerful of all jarls and the last to hold the title, Birger jarl. Iceland Only one person ever held the title of Earl (or Jarl) in Iceland. This was Gissur Þorvaldsson, who was made Earl of Iceland by King Haakon IV of Norway for his efforts in bringing Iceland under Norwegian kingship during the Age of the Sturlungs.

(Wikipedia) Female titles of nobility in Norse langauges Story Research: Experts and Interviewees Wanted Female titles of nobility in Norse langauges If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. 312 Female titles of nobility in Norse langauges I've made my fantasy world quite difficult for myself by playing with languages I know far too little about. However, as long as I keep it consistent, I think I should be alright. What I would like is some help with finding an appropriate feminine equivalent/partner to the old Norse title of Jarl. It plays in a number of my countries as varying levels of nobility, and I need a title for the wives of these Jarls. I also need a feminine equivalent for a female version of the title to be held in her own right. At present, I have been using the old feminising suffix -ynja for creating female versions of titles where they have not already been in use.

So, for example, the wife of a margreve is a margrevynja, the wife of a greve is a grevynja. Jarlynja does not sound or look right. I did consider Jarlkona 'jarl-woman' or 'jarl-wife', but I'd like to know if there are any direct equivalents in any of the Norse languages I could use and potentially manipulate. The languages are heavily based on various Germanic ones, then modified as I choose to feature what I hope is an internal consistency. Of course, this is why the wife of an Earl is called a Countess. No one bothered creating a female version of that title either... Any help gratefully appreciated - thanks! Amateur etymology: an excellent way to complicate your novels. A Gentleman of a refined age... Join Date Posts 9,308 Been reading a lot of Norse history and mythology lately so here is what I have gleamed so far... Jarl is the Danish equivalent to the British term Earl or Eorl, which denotes a military leader and not necessarily a person of nobility/peerage. A Jarl commanded his own fighting men sworn to him.

He in turn would often times pledge to fight for a higher lord who could grant them land, slaves, silver and gold. With the British, Earl is still a military leader who commands his own troops and was often courted by various Kings, when England had more than one king. There was no Danish feminine equivalent for Jarl and I am not sure Countess would have been used in parts of England not controlled by Danelaw, like Northumbria. If you haven't already, you might want to check up on Danelaw vs West Saxon Law or Mercian Law. Here is a quick wiki overview... In British royalty/peerage, titles did not automatically extend to the rest of a persons family, especially if the person was a commoner before. This is different from most European peerage systems because the title elevated the whole family's peerage. During Alfred's rule, late 9th century Wessex, his wife was simply noted as the Kings wife. She was never a queen, though his son was a prince and his daughter a princess because their bloodline was from Alfred.

I do like your usage of the Jarl-wife suffix, though I am not sure it is a title that denotes peerage as much as it does to identify who she belongs too. Such as, "Who is the woman riding behind Ragnor?" "She is the wife of Jarl Ragnor, and he is very protective of her if you understand." While Danes fell in love, women were mostly thought of as a possession, depending on the time period you are writing about. Hope some of this makes sense... Knowledge is learned while wisdom is earned. Currently working on... From, The Tales of Netherron, Book 1, A Game of Pawns Book 2, Pawn takes Queen, Book 3, Pawn's Gambit, Children of Netherron, follow up trilogy Guardians of Netherron, prequel trilogy Posts 2,067 There just aren't very many. The Norse didn't really have an inherited aristocracy. Titles other than Queen were usually male-only. (I'm running across this in my story, too. It's not set in the Viking age, but it's heavily influenced by Anglo-Saxon and the next level below the King is Jarl.

I've settled on "The Jarl of Wessex" and his wife "Lady Wessex", as an example. There just isn't a good female equivalent.) The SCA, a medieval...er...not quite reenactment group but that's close enough to go on with. It publishes a list of alternate titles. Here is their one for Old Norse. RESEARCH YOURSELF as well. The people who put this list together did research but there may be more now. You will note there are not many female equivalents in the Old Norse column. The ones in the Norwegian column are undoubtedly from later than the Viking era. "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions; but everyone is not entitled to their own facts." --Daniel Patrick Moynihan "He has the courage of a fighting cock and the brains of a chicken." -I cannot find the attribution for this :-( ================================ 2,067 Originally Posted by thothguard51 While Danes fell in love, women were mostly thought of as a possession, depending on the time period you are writing about. Not during Viking times. Women had lots of rights compared to other areas of Europe at the time.

They could divorce, get custody of children, own and manage property, will their posessions after death, all sorts of things. By no means were they thought of nor treated as "possessions". "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions; but everyone is not entitled to their own facts." --Daniel Patrick Moynihan "He has the courage of a fighting cock and the brains of a chicken." -I cannot find the attribution for this :-( ================================ Posts 312 Hi guys, thanks for your suggestions. The lands aren't direct counterparts - or at least I hope they won't be - and in this world there's a lot of inherited titles, most of which were originally, like our own, were due to military strength. But I've introduced things like the Riders, which are basically knights for Thoswid, usually of Jarl bloodlines. On the other hand, I have at least five estates/titles that exist through the female bloodline, partly due to the generally female domain of magic, so those female-jarls need titles. Currently I'm using 'Lady', but that's from Old English, and gets used in other countries, so I'd prefer to use something else.

(This coming from someone who uses 'Master' and 'Mistress' almost indiscriminately for non-nobles in any 'Germanic' Cold Land because I can't find anything else...) I'll look into the SCA - I've run across it before, so hopefully there'll be something I can use! ETA: Using -inde as the feminine ending for Thoswid (the more leaning towards Danish Norse-language country would give a feminine of Jarlinde, which sounds better than Jarlynja, and I could then use Jarl-kona or Jarlkona to specify the Jarl's wife. Especially as they can take concubines known as thrï¿½llkonas, literally 'thrï¿½ll-wife.' Last edited by Tanydwr; 02-21-2012 at 10:48 PM. Amateur etymology: an excellent way to complicate your novels.

An meodoheall monig dreama full Posts 25,527 Three books; the first is likely only to be found in a university library, but it is excellent, albeit very pricey: The Cold Counsel: The Women in Old Norse Literature and Myth (Garland reference library of the humanities). Eds. Sarah M. Anderson and Karen Swenson. ISBN: 0815319665. This is the paperback; there's an even pricier hardcover from Garland. Much easier to find, but be a little cautious when they depart from primary sources: Women in Old Norse Society. Jenny Jochens. Cornell UP. ISBN: 0801485207. Women in the Viking Age. Judith Jesch. Boydell. ISBN: 0851153607. AW Admin: This account is rarely active A Gentleman of a refined age... Join Date 9,308 Originally Posted by ULTRAGOTHA Not during Viking times. Women had lots of rights compared to other areas of Europe at the time.

They could divorce, get custody of children, own and manage property, will their posessions after death, all sorts of things. By no means were they thought of nor treated as "possessions". Viking is a term that means to go pirating. It does not mean a set time period as many cultures went viking. Danish, Franks, and even Saxons, etc went a viking at times. So it really depends on which culture you are referring to as to what women's right were at the time. Many Danes who settled in Wessex converted to Christianity and no longer followed Danelaw, not openly anyway... Knowledge is learned while wisdom is earned. Currently working on... From, The Tales of Netherron, Book 1, A Game of Pawns Book 2, Pawn takes Queen, Book 3, Pawn's Gambit, Children of Netherron, follow up trilogy Guardians of Netherron, prequel trilogy 13,807 Originally Posted by Tanydwr Hi guys, thanks for your suggestions.

The lands aren't direct counterparts - or at least I hope they won't be - and in this world there's a lot of inherited titles, most of which were originally, like our own, were due to military strength. But I've introduced things like the Riders, which are basically knights for Thoswid, usually of Jarl bloodlines. On the other hand, I have at least five estates/titles that exist through the female bloodline, partly due to the generally female domain of magic, so those female-jarls need titles. Currently I'm using 'Lady', but that's from Old English, and gets used in other countries, so I'd prefer to use something else. (This coming from someone who uses 'Master' and 'Mistress' almost indiscriminately for non-nobles in any 'Germanic' Cold Land because I can't find anything else...) I'll look into the SCA - I've run across it before, so hopefully there'll be something I can use!

ETA: Using -inde as the feminine ending for Thoswid (the more leaning towards Danish Norse-language country would give a feminine of Jarlinde, which sounds better than Jarlynja, and I could then use Jarl-kona or Jarlkona to specify the Jarl's wife. Especially as they can take concubines known as thrï¿½llkonas, literally 'thrï¿½ll-wife.' If you want "venerated woman", use freyja (Old English cognate: frea; German cognate: Frau. It's an old honorific meaning "lady" in most German languages.) or gyï¿½ja (priestess, maybe landlady.) 2,067 Originally Posted by thothguard51 Viking is a term that means to go pirating. It does not mean a set time period as many cultures went viking. Danish, Franks, and even Saxons, etc went a viking at times. So it really depends on which culture you are referring to as to what women's right were at the time. Many Danes who settled in Wessex converted to Christianity and no longer followed Danelaw, not openly anyway...

You are quite correct that "Viking" is a job description, not an ethnic designation. But it is also, roughly, a period of time. That period of time varies from country to country and historian to historian, but it is generally when the Norse were boiling out of Scandinavia and all over Europe and parts of North America in their square-sailed ships. It generally ends when Christianity and other forces have influenced the Scandinavian (and Anglo-Scandinavian, Russo-Scandinavian, Franco-Scandinavian, etc) cultures to the point where they're no longer raiding their neighbours. There's no clear cut-off. *I* tend to place the English Viking Age as running from the first recorded raid in England by Northmen in the late 8th century to the battle of Stamford Bridge. Though why a Norwegian King attempting to invade England in square-sail ships counts as "Viking" and a Norman Duke invading England in square-sailed ships doesn't count is ... sticky. Probably because the Normans are no longer Norse by any real means of classification and William the Bastard succeeded. And to WRENCH this back on topic.... Tanydwr, you might look at adding 'wif' to the end of a word.

It's a bit Old English, but then so is Jarl, supposedly. Jarlwif. Or Jarlfru or Jarlinde or Jarlinna. "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions; but everyone is not entitled to their own facts." --Daniel Patrick Moynihan "He has the courage of a fighting cock and the brains of a chicken." -I cannot find the attribution for this :-( ================================ Originally Posted by ULTRAGOTHA And to WRENCH this back on topic.... Tanydwr, you might look at adding 'wif' to the end of a word. It's a bit Old English, but then so is Jarl, supposedly. Jarlwif. Or Jarlfru or Jarlinde or Jarlinna. I'm looking at Jarlinde for the female title and Jarlkona for the wife. Can someone clarify for me what the -fru suffix means? Is it 'wife' or similar, possibly related to the German frau? Amateur etymology: an excellent way to complicate your novels. Does your fantasy world have female Jarls-in-their-own-right? Otherwise you wouldn't need to differentiate. Yes, -fru is related to frau.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions; but everyone is not entitled to their own facts." --Daniel Patrick Moynihan "He has the courage of a fighting cock and the brains of a chicken." -I cannot find the attribution for this :-( ================================ They've been very bad, Mr Flibble Join Date We couldn't possibly do that. Who'd clear up the mess? Posts 18,870 /stirs pot Well, a lot of Jarls had more than one wife (as many as they could stand, or afford) which may be why no one honorific applies -what husband wants that catfight on his hands? "Fade to Black is a dynamic and original introduction to a world and character that promise further exciting stories". British Fantasy Society The series has grown in complexity since the beginning, reaches a profoundly moving conclusion that is both unexpected and entirely satisfying - Publisher's Weekly Posts 10,308 Who do you think managed the farms, the slaves, the industries while the menfolk were out riding in their little boats around the block, being up to no good? Women had a comparatively equal footing in Norse societies, if you were a freewoman.

Aristocracy didn't really start to matter until the arrival of Christianity. What was important was if you were a freeman or not. From the ranks of the freemen, you got the first aristocrats. But think of Norse society as one built on the clan system. Think Scotland, or the Highlands. The Norse were similar in that respect to the McGregors or the Campbells. The clans were divided into families on farms scattered around. The remnants of this lived on into Christian times, so if you're interested you can read up about Birkebeinerne in Norway or Folkungarna in Sweden. These clans operated in Christianised lands, but still had the clan structure until the rise of feudalism and aristocracy. The rise of the aristocracy grew out of the increasing importance of the monarchies. In most of scandinavia the kings were elected by the clans. This went on well into the 1500s. In Sweden Gustaf Wasa was the last to be elected king, and that happened in 1523, long after the end of the Viking era. The term 'jarl' was just a job description, not a title.

The fighting forces of the Norse were the hird which consisted of the freeborn menfolk within a family or farm of a clan, unless they were infirm or had a trade like blacksmithing. Women would have their standing decided by who their father was. So, women didn't use their husband's sirname. If you were a Sif, and your father was the chief Ragnar, your name was Sif Ragnarsdottir. See Icelandic naming customs where this live on. If you were a lower clan chieftain and married a higher clan chieftain's daughter, the name would confer more prestige. Last edited by Maxinquaye; 02-23-2012 at 07:38 AM. ---- Posts 86 Unless you really want to use Jarl, what about Drott and and its female equivalent Drottning (or Dronning/Drottinn)? Modern Swedish still uses the word Drottning for Queen, but it is an old Norse title. It's not quite the same as Jarl (it's a bit more.. warlike), but it is a ruler's title. Drottning certainly carries more authority than Jarlkona and the like.

As for your own suggestions, Jarlinna is the most natural sounding one. Jarlynja is also okay, and even Jarla sounds good to my Scandinavian ears. Jarlkona, however, sounds like the title of a Jarl's wife, while the others sound as though they could be rulers in their own right. Posts 2,637 Why does there need to be masculine and female titles in your world. She could be a Jarl too. If she is taking on what is traditionally a very male role she may consider it better to have the male title. There are some titles like that - Chieftain, for example, is gender neutral. Remember Elizabeth I's famous (possibly apophrycal?) speech - 'I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman...' as well as her 'not a word used for Princes...' line. A woman in a traditional male role may well consider it appropriate to assume the male title to reinforce her position against the inevitable prejudice. Lurking Miscellany 312 Originally Posted by areteus Why does there need to be masculine and female titles in your world. She could be a Jarl too.

If she is taking on what is traditionally a very male role she may consider it better to have the male title. There are some titles like that - Chieftain, for example, is gender neutral. Remember Elizabeth I's famous (possibly apophrycal?) speech - 'I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman...' as well as her 'not a word used for Princes...' line. A woman in a traditional male role may well consider it appropriate to assume the male title to reinforce her position against the inevitable prejudice. This is an interesting point, but at the same time, my character isn't in a male role at all. No man would be capable of taking her title because it is connected by seiï¿½r (Thoswigian weaving magic) - an entirely female domain. She is responsible for the dï¿½sir and other non-human beings in her realm, the ability of the Eyhildrun Jarlinde or Jarlinna or Jarla is beyond what men are capable of. It isn't the weaving that's feminine, it's the magic.

Eastern Hï¿½darish lands consider magic a feminine role, and only Thoswid defies that slightly by men being permitted to cast runes. Thus one of the woman in control of these areas cannot simply be a Jarl, because a Jarl is a different title altogether. I have used drï¿½ttning for the wife of the drï¿½ttinn, the kongr's eldest son and lead of the drï¿½tt. Variations of drottning are used in other countries for 'queen'. I think I am going to go for -inde as the feminine ending in Thoswid, making Sunnifa the Eyhildrun Jarlinde (never Jarlinde of Eyhildrun), the king's wife the konginde, and the wives of jarls jarlkonas, when it's necessary to give them a title. Could be a recent innovation of course... Thank you all for all your help, it's been brilliant. On another language altogether, do any of you have an opinion of Carfvan as the title of what is essentially a king's council?

It's based on the Welsh carfan meaning 'group', but I was worried English-speaking readers would read that as car-fan, which isn't the point. And I'd like to keep it non-Latin-origin and, ideally, starting with a C, since the question 'King or Carfvan?' is an important one, and sounds better if it's alliterative. Thanks. Posts 2,067 If you're going for a council who advise the King and don't mind Anglo-Saxon, you can use Witenagemot. In English history it was a council (moot) of wise men (witans) who advised the King in various ways that changed from time to time and maybe even from reign to reign. They elected the King, if there was no clear heir, from amongst the AEthelings (princes of the Royal house). They elected King Harold II, for example (though he was not an AEtheling), and then Edgar the AEtheling when King Harold died at the Battle of Hastings. A thing I am battling with in my own story is reducing or explaining or smoothly integrating all these Anglo-Saxon words I'm using without overwhelming the reader. You might keep an eye on that yourself.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions; but everyone is not entitled to their own facts." --Daniel Patrick Moynihan Posts 312 My issue is that I essentially have a blending of two cultures - High Cadaln (Welsh-based) in the north and Cadaln Hï¿½darish (Germanic-English-based) in the south. High Cadaln is considered the 'tongue of law' and Cadaln Hï¿½darish is the 'tongue of trade.' The net effect is that though more northerners speak Hï¿½darish than southerners speak High Cadaln, I want this particular group to have a Welsh title of some sort. I'm well aware I've made things tricky for myself, but on the whole, once the basics are told, I don't think the different words make the story unreadable. I really need someone to read the finished one to let me know. Crisiant, the MC, has an advantage - she's polylingual anyway, but even then there are words in their 'English' confuse her due to the reduction in words of Latin/Greek origin.

As it is, the Witenagemot exists as a different body, called about once a year, while the Carfvan is made up of people like his Lord High Steward, Lord High Lawspeaker (Magistrate), and equivalents to Treasurer, Foreign Minister, Agricultural Minister, Law-Historian, Chancellor, etc. Does that help at all? The Carfvan was put together from the then-Pennaeths (essentially dukes or petty kings) governing the twelve other kingdoms that combined to make Cadaln at the Bonding (the kingdom of Morien being that of the then-titled High Cyng). Over time, the role of the Carfvan became more advisory and administrative as the population grew and peace spread over Cadaln. Unfortunately, thirteen in Welsh is essentially tri ar deg which I think is literally 'three and ten.' That's a shame, that could have worked... Amateur etymology: an excellent way to complicate your novels. Posts 312 Ideally I need something Welsh, since this was a 'Welsh'-speaking king that set up the group, originally the leaders or newly-appointed leaders of the thirteen kingdoms that made up the newly-Bonded Cadaln.

More importantly, it needs to flow nicely in the following 'tag-line', which is echoed in all four novels: "King or Carfvan? Make your choice." Originally it was "King or Council", which also had the alliteration. Unfortunately the Welsh for council, cwnswl, is too clearly derived from the Latin. Yes, I'm aware I have made things very difficult for myself. Amateur etymology: an excellent way to complicate your novels. Posts 1,585 I don't speak Welsh, but I live in Wales and I've picked up the odd word here and there. The Welsh Government is called the Welsh Assembly, or the National Assembly for Wales. Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru. In this Cynulliad means Assembly. By the way, I don't know if you know (or care) but there is no V in Welsh. F is pronounced as V, and FF is pronounced as F. Actually, the word I always see for Council is Cyngor. I see it every day, on local council stuff. I don't think I've ever seen cwnsel. I just looked Cyngor up. It has the meanings council and advice.

So maybe that's something you could use. Last edited by Lillie; 03-03-2012 at 11:23 PM. Earl - definition of earl by The Free Dictionary Earl - definition of earl by The Free Dictionary (ûrl) n. 1. A British nobleman next in rank above a viscount and below a marquis, corresponding to a count in continental Europe. 2. Used as a title for such a nobleman. [Middle English erl, nobleman of high rank, from Old English eorl.] earl (ɜːl) n 1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (in the British Isles) a nobleman ranking below a marquess and above a viscount. Female equivalent: countess 2. (Historical Terms) (in Anglo-Saxon England) a royal governor of any of the large divisions of the kingdom, such as Wessex [Old English eorl; related to Old Norse jarl chieftain, Old Saxon erl man] earl (ɜrl) n.

a British nobleman of a rank below that of marquis and above that of viscount: called a count for a time after the Norman Conquest. The wife of an earl is a countess. [before 900; Middle English erl, Old English eorl; c. Old Saxon, Old High German erl man, Old Norse jarl chieftain] ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: On Titles (If you find this useful, you can say thank you by buying one of my books. ENGLISH TITLES IN THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES by Jo Beverley Member of the RWA Hall of Fame for Regency Romance. "Arguably today's most skilful writer of intelligent historical romance." Publishers Weekly This brief run-down of English titles is for use by fiction writers. It is by no means comprehensive, but covers the more common situations arising in novels set in the above periods. At the end I address the question of choosing fictional titles. The English peerage basically runs according to primogeniture, ie the eldest son gets nearly everything.

If a peer has no eldest son, the title and possessions that belong to it go to the next male heir, probably a brother or nephew. There are a very few titles that can pass to a female if there is no direct heir, but they will revert to the male line when the lady bears a son. (Such as the monarchy.) Some titles can automatically pass through a female heir (when there is no male heir) and most can be revived by subsequent generations by petitioning to the Crown. But that's getting into more complicated areas. If your plot depends on something unusual, please do research it thoroughly before going ahead. The eldest son is called the heir apparent, since he is clearly the heir. If there is no such son, the next in line is called the heir presumptive since, no matter how unlikely (the duke is actually an ancient Benedictine Monk on his death bed) the possibility of a closer heir being created is still there. Thus an heir presumptive does not hold an heir's title, if any. (See below about heir's titles.) If a peer dies leaving a wife but no son, the heir inherits unless the widow says she might be with child. It is for her to do that.

If she stays silent, it is assumed that she is not. If she's pregnant, everything waits until the child is born. An heir must be legitimate at birth to inherit a title, though that could mean a marriage ceremony performed while the mother is in labor. A peer may raise bastards with devotion and/or marry the mother later, but a bastard child can never be his legal heir. Peers automatically had seats in the House of Lords. Note, however, that courtesy titles (those held by heirs) do not give seats, or any of the other privileges of the peerage. Most peers do not use their surnames as their title. Thus, the usual pattern would be something like Sebastian Burgoyne, Earl of Malzard. He is Lord Malzard never Lord Burgoyne. (Or, for that matter, Lord Sebastian.) As an author, you might like variety, but take as a general rule is that no one ever had two forms of address. THE RANKS OF THE PEERAGE A) Leaving aside royalty, the highest rank is DUKE. His wife is the DUCHESS. They will be duke and duchess of something, eg. Duke and Duchess of Ithorne.

Address is "your grace", though familiars may address them as Duke and Duchess eg "Fine weather for shooting, eh, Duke?" or may address the duke by title. "Care for more port, Ithorne?" NOTE that the duke will also have a family name, ie. surname (such as Cavendish) but will not use it in the normal course of events. The duchess does not use the surname at all. If Anne Pitt marries the Duke of Stone (whose family name is Cherry), she will be Duchess of Stone and will informally sign herself Anne Stone, not Anne Cherry. The duke's eldest son is his heir and will have his father's second-best title as his courtesy title. Nearly all peers have a number of titles marking their climb up the ranks. The heir to a duke is often the next lowest ranking peer, a marquess (or marquis -- spelling is optional, but both are pronounced markwess.) The title could, however, be an earldom, or even a viscountcy. Remember, a courtesy title does not give the holder a seat in the House of Lords or other privileges of the peerage.

If the heir has a son before the heir becomes duke, that son will take the next lowest title as a courtesy title. If the heir dies before his father, his eldest son becomes the heir apparent and takes his father's title. Apart from the heir, a duke's sons are given the courtesy title Lord with their Christian name, eg. Lord Richard Somerset. Lord Peter Wimsey. They are never Lord Somerset or Lord Wimsey. All duke's daughters are given the courtesy title Lady, first name, surname eg. Lady Mary Clarendon. (Never Lady Clarendon.) If they marry a commoner, they retain the title. If Lady Mary marries Mr. Sticklethwait, she becomes Lady Mary Sticklethwait. If she marries a peer, she adopts his title. If Lady Mary marries the Earl of Herrick, she becomes Countess of Herrick, ie. Lady Herrick. If she marries the holder of a courtesy title, then she may use his title or her birth title as she wishes. I'm hammering this home, but it's the most common error in novels.

In all cases, the titles Lord or Lady "first name" "surname" (eg Lady Anne Middleton) and Lord or Lady "last name" or "title" (Lady Middleton) are exclusive. No one can be both at the same time. Moreover, Lord or Lady "first name" is a title conferred at birth. It cannot be gained later in life except when the father accedes to a title and thus raises his family. So, Lady Mary Smith is not Lady Smith and vice versa. Lord John Brown in not Lord Brown and vice versa. If Mary Smith marries Lord Brown she becomes Lady Brown, not Lady Mary. (If she marries Lord John Brown, she becomes Lady John Brown. Yes, it may sound odd to modern ears, but the past is, as they say, a different country. That's the charm of historical fiction.) B) Next in rank is a MARQUESS (As above, it can be spelled marquis or marquess, but in either case is pronounced markwess.) He will be Marquess of something, eg Marquess of Rothgar. His wife is the MARCHIONESS.

(Pronounced "marshuness".) He is the Marquess of Rothgar, or Lord Rothgar, or Rothgar to his familiars, and his wife is the Marchioness of Rothgar or Lady Rothgar. She will sign herself "firstname" "title" eg. Diana Rothgar. His heir apparent takes his next highest title as a courtesy title. All other sons have the title Lord "firstname" "surname". All daughters have the title Lady "firstname" "surname". Details are as for duke. C) Below marquess is EARL. He will nearly always be earl of something. His wife is the COUNTESS. He is referred to as "the Earl of Saxonhurst" or "Lord Saxonhurst", or "Saxonhurst" to his familiars. Some earls do not use "of" as with Earl Spencer, b and in that case the family surname will be the same as the title -- in this case, Spencer -- but this is sufficiently unusual that I think it should be avoided in fiction unless it's a crucial plot point.

His wife is the Countess of Saxonhurst, or Lady Saxonhurst, and she will sign herself Minerva (or Meg -- viz Forbidden Magic -- Saxonhurst. As with a duke, the earl's heir will take the next lowest title as a courtesy title, and the heir's son, the next again. All daughters of an earl are given the courtesy title Lady "firstname"; -- see dukes. All details are the same. Younger sons of an earl, however, are merely "the honorable" which is not used in casual speech. D) Next is a VISCOUNT (pronounced vycount.) His wife is a VISCOUNTESS. He is not "of". He will be, for example, Viscount Middlethorpe, usually known as Lord Middlethorpe, or just Middlethorpe. His wife will be known as Lady Middlethorpe and will sign herself Serena Middlethorpe. His heir has no special title. All children are known as the honorable. E) The lowest rank in the peerage is BARON. His wife is a BARONESS.

NOTE that the terms baron and baroness are only used in England in the most formal documents, or when the distinction has to be made elsewhere. General usage is simply to call them Lord and Lady. She will sign herself "firstname" "title". Children as for viscount. F) Next in rank -- and not of the peerage -- is BARONET. A baronet is called Sir, first name, surname. eg. Sir Richard Wellesley. His wife is called Lady "surname"; eg. Lady Wellesley. NOT Lady Mary Wellesley unless she is the daughter of a duke, marquess, or earl. She will sign herself "firstname" "surname" such as Mary Wellesley. His children have no special distinction. The title, however, is inheritable which distinguishes it from.... G) A KNIGHT who is the same as a baronet in usage, but is a title for life only.

His wife will be Lady "surname" OTHER MATTERS DOWAGERS When a titled lady is widowed she becomes a dowager, but the practice has generally been not to use that title until the heir takes a wife, when there could be confusion as to who is the real Lady Middlethorpe. (As happens in my novel, Forbidden.) Even if she has a daughter-in-law, in general usage she would still be referred to by the simple title unless there was likely to be confusion. So, if the Dowager Duchess of Teale was at a house party while her daughter-in-law was in London, people would not be constantly referring to her as the dowager duchess. PEERESSES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT There are a few, very few, titles that can pass to a daughter if there is no son -- the Royal Family, for example. In this case, the usage is the same as if they were the wife of a peer of that rank, but their husband gains no title from the marriage, just as the Duke of Edinburgh is not king.

A Peeress in her Own Right retains her title after marriage, and if her husband's rank is the superior one, she is designated by the two titles jointly, the inferior one last. Or she can say what form she wants to use. (eg The marchioness of Rothgar is also the Countess of Arradale by right. She chooses to be Lady Rothgar and Arradale in the most formal situations, Lady Rothgar in general, but Lady Arradale in private, especially when attending to her duties as Countess of Arradale. Unusual situations do tend to get complicated.) Her hereditary claim to her title holds good in spite of any marriage, and will be passed on. Since the husband gains no title from such a marriage, it's possible to have the Countess of Arbuthnot married to Mr. Smith. Her eldest son will be her heir and take her next lowest title. If she has no son, her eldest daughter will be her heir, but until she becomes the peer she will hold only the title that comes from her birth -- eg. Lady Anne -- if any, because an eldest daughter is always an heir presumptive. There might still be a boy.

COMMON PROBLEMS SEEN IN NOVELS Interchanging courtesy titles like Lady Mary Smith and Lady Smith. Interchanging peerage titles, as when Michael Downs, Earl of Rosebury is variously known as Lord Rosebury, Lord Downs, and Lord Michael Downs. Applying titles that don't belong, as when Jane Potts marries Viscount Twistleton and erroneously becomes Lady Jane, a title form that can only come by birth. Having the widow of just about anyone, but especially a peer, remarry before time has elapsed to be sure she is not bearing a child. Or rather, whose child it is that she bears! Having the heir presumptive assume the title and powers before the widow has made it clear that she's not going to produce an heir. Having an adopted son inherit a title. Legal adoption was not possible in England until the twentieth century, and even now an adopted son cannot inherit a title. Even if the son is clearly the father's offspring, if he wasn't born after a legal marriage, he cannot inherit the father's title. However, since they didn't have DNA testing, a child was assumed to be legitimate unless the father denied it from the first.

Even if the son turns out to look suspiciously like the vicar, the father cannot deny him later. This, I assume was to avoid the chaos of peers coming up with all sorts of excuses to switch heirs on a whim. Having a title left in a will, which follows from the above. A title cannot be willed to whomever the peer in question chooses. It goes according to the original letters patent, which almost always say that it will go to the oldest legitimate male in direct descent. The property can be left elsewhere, unless it is entailed, but the title goes by legitimate blood. Having an heiress (ie a daughter without brothers) inherit a title and convey it to her husband. It could be done -- anything could -- by special decree of the Crown, but it was not at all normal. The question was asked: When writing historical fiction, does one create a title for a character, or do you have to research a title and just use a disclaimer? Answer: always make it up. When you've come up with a title you like, do an internet search to see if it exists. Also check The Peerage and do a search in Googlebooks advanced search.

You can choose date of publication, so you could do a broad search there for the Earl of Glaringdangerously published between 1800 and 1830 and see if any reference turns up. You don't want to give your fictional character a title that was in use at the time. The main reason is that it's uncouth to appropriate someone's identity. In addition, some, perhaps many, readers will be aware of the real peer which will destroy the fictional reality you're trying to create. Bear in mind that most peers were simple Lord xxxxxx, so you can't have an Earl of Smilingcharmingly when there was a Viscount Smilingcharmingly. If the title was in use in any way, don't use it. Your internet search should pull up any other uses of the title, and life peerages mean there are lots today. They weren't around a hundred years ago, but it's still not couth to use their title in a fictional work set in the past. Most take their surnames as title, but that can cover a lot of ground. There's a Lord Sugar and a Lord Adonis, both men who've made their way in life from a simple start.

If you really like your title but it exists or existed, it may be possible to alter it and retain the quality that appeals to you. You may fancy Lord Amesbury, but he existed. You could have Lord Aymesbury or Lord Embury. A good place to hunt for titles is on large scale maps that show the names of villages. Often remainder houses sell last year's large scale UK road atlases for under $10, or you can simply use googlemaps and zoom in. Same thing for surnames. Place names are often specific for certain areas of Britain, so if your character's family has been in Suffolk for generations, look at Suffolk villages for ideas for names. Or you can get into genealogical records if you want something really local. That's how I came up with a smuggler called Melchisadeck Clyst! I hope this helps, and though I'm pretty sure it's right it is open to debate and amendment. Please e-mail me at jo at jobevdotcom if you have comments. Copyright Jo Beverley. You may link to this article or share it, but of you share it I ask that you observe the following rules.

Please don't alter it in any way, and please keep the copyright notice in place. Don't use it to make money for yourself or your organization. If possible, include the URL of my web site so people can find out more about my books. If you enjoyed this article, you could tweet about it Click on it and you will be able to preview it before it goes. I have an author page on Facebook, where I post fun news about life, research and books on most days. Click on the face! However, Facebook doesn't send every message to everyone, so you might want to sign up for my newsletter below. If you'd like to talk to other readers about the books, you can join a chat list by e-mailing here Like the historical part of historical fiction? Visit the Word Wenches blog. If any of this web site is difficult to enjoy, please e-mail here

Question: The wife of an earl has what equivalent female title?
Answer: COUNTESS