Edler

Edler (Edler von), was until 1919 a title for the lower nobility in Austria-Hungary, as well as Germany. It was mostly given to civil-servants and military-officers, as well as carriers of certain orders of the second estate. The female style would be Edle (Edle von).

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In English also translatable as Esquire.

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AN OLDER SOURCE FOR THE NAME 'EDLER': According to one book on King Arthur (Bernard Cornwell's, THE WINTER KING: St. Martin's Press, N.Y.: 1995), the word 'Edling' titled a 'Crown Prince' in the period in which King Arthur would have lived (A.D. early 400's). According to German dictionaries (e.g., Harper Collins: German Unabridged Dictionary, 1999), 'edle(r)' is derivative from the word 'edling', refering to a nobleman. Currently is said to reference a nobleman/woman, noble person, or lord/lady.

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Nobility: The nobility represents, or has represented, the higher stratum of a society in which social classes can be distinguished. The most distinctive feature of nobilty is that once acquired, it is passed to descendants, possibly according to some rules. The word "noble" in "nobility" also means "doing an...