Category Archives: titles of aristocracy

Changing One’s Name During the Regency

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Regina Jeffers

I wish I could recall where I encountered this information, but I cannot. Therefore, I must apologize up front if someone shared it with me, and I am not giving them credit or whether I read it in a Facebook … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, customs and tradiitons, family, Georgian England, history, Inheritance, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, peerage, real life tales, Regency era, research, titles of aristocracy, tradtions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Proving Oneself the New Peer

Posted on April 14, 2025 by Regina Jeffers

I had a recent question from a reader/writer about how after the death of the current peer was one made the new peer. Was it immediate? Is there a process or some sort of hearing. What must he prove to … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, book excerpts, British history, eBooks, excerpt, Great Britain, history, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, peerage, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Proving Oneself the New Peer

Procedure for a Man to Claim a Peerage

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Regina Jeffers

This seems to be the month when authors and readers send me questions of “procedures” for those living in Georgian/Regency England. PROCEDURE ON CLAIMS Most claims are going to be straight forward and having the claim settled will only take … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heraldry, history, Inheritance, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, peerage, primogenture, real life tales, Regency era, research, Scotland, terminology, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Procedure for a Man to Claim a Peerage

Can Courtesy Titles Be Bestowed?

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Regina Jeffers

Since my last post on Courtesy Titles, I have received several inquires about how courtesy titles were bestowed upon others. First, permit me to clarify, once again, there is a difference between an actual title of the peerage and a courtesy … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, history, Jane Austen, legacy, Living in the UK, Napoleonic Wars, real life tales, research, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Courtesy Title or Not

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Regina Jeffers

Courtesy titles are the bane of all writers dealing with the aristocracy. First and foremost, if you are one of those who cannot keep it straight, I would suggest this link https://www.chinet.com/~laura/html/titles05.html as it contains a good summary, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Jane Austen, Living in the UK, marriage, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, research, titles of aristocracy, tradtions, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Use of the Word “Dowager” During the Regency Era

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

In the Regency, the word dowager was used in newspapers, letters, the Gazette,  and on letters. One was never addressed as a “Dowager.” One does not say, “Good day, Dowager Countess.” The woman is simply addressed as a “Lady So-and-So.” … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, language choices, Living in the Regency, Regency era, titles of aristocracy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Dukes: a Dime a Dozen… British Peerages

Posted on May 20, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Those of us who write historical romances love our dukes. We create them left and right. I have two, which is not a large number when one considers I have 67 novels available: Brantley Fowler from A Touch of Velvet: … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Saxons, British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, kings and queens, legacy, Living in the UK, peerage, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Courtesy Titles (or) Not, a Confusing Aspect of Reading and Writing Historical Novels

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

One of the most confusing aspects of writing Regency-based novels is the issue of courtesy titles. We authors are always going back and questioning what we think we know. I have heard readers say to me that this is one … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Inheritance, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

During the Regency, Could a Female Run an Estate in the Absence of the Male Heir?

Posted on August 28, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Recently, one of my author friends sent me her Work in Progress manuscript for me to comment on what she had written to that point. She and I often bounce ideas off each other. Although beautifully written, making me sorry … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Inheritance, Living in the Regency, marriage, Napoleonic Wars, Pride and Prejudice, Realm series, research, titles of aristocracy, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Duke Is Dead, Long Live the Duke . . . Now What?

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

During the Georgian era, a will could be declared void it the person was insane or drunk at the time of its creation or be voided if it was proven to have been written for a convicted felon, a prisoner, or an outlaw/thief. So it was also for those who committed suicide or had been excommunicated from the church or if the person was a slave. A married woman required the consent of her husband to have a will drawn up. Worst so, the husband had the right to withdraw his permission up until the will was probated. Because the legal age to marry during the time was 14 for boys and 12 for girls, such was the same ages for wills. Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, aristocracy, British history, estates, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Inheritance, laws of the land, legacy, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments