Georg Ritter von Trapp

Georg Ritter von Trapp (April 4, 1880 - May 30, 1947) headed the famous Austrian singing family immortalized in the musical The Sound of Music. His exploits at sea in World War I earned him numerous decorations, including the honor of adding "von" to his name.

Notes

Ritter (German for "Rider") is the lowest-ranking title of lower nobility, in German-speaking areas, considered equal to the title Knight.

Related Topics:
German - Title - Nobility - Knight

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When used before the first name ("Ritter Manfred Richthofen"), it is the equivalent of chivalric titles in the English-speaking world, and so is directly equivalent to a knighthood (as, "Sir Winston Churchill, Knight of the Garter").

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When used with "von" as part of the surname ("Manfred Ritter von Richthofen"), it is an hereditary knighthood, and so is closer to the British "baronetcy," which gives the holder the English title "Sir," but indicates the lowest grade of landed aristocracy ("Sir Henry Percy, Baronet"), an inherited title but one which does not entitle one to participation as a "peer" in the House of Lords for instance.

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Georg von Trapp would therefore have been most properly called in English not baron, but "Sir Georg von Trapp," as the equivalent of a baronet.

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