Lady

A lady is a woman who is the counterpart of a lord; or, the counterpart of a gentleman.

In the British peerage

As a title of nobility the uses of "Lady" are mainly paralleled by those of "Lord". It is thus a less formal alternative to the full title giving the specific rank, of marchioness, countess, viscountess or baroness, whether as the title of the husbands rank by right or courtesy, or as the lady's title in her own right.

Related Topics:
Marchioness - Countess - Viscountess - Baroness

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In the case of the younger sons of a duke or marquess, who by courtesy have "Lord" prefixed to their Christian and family name, the wife is known by the husband's Christian and family name with "Lady" prefixed, e.g. Lady John Smith; the daughters of dukes, marquesses and earls are by courtesy Ladies; here that title is prefixed to the Christian and family name of the lady, e.g. Lady Jane Smith, and this is preserved if the lady marry a commoner, e.g. Mr John and Lady Jane Smith.

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"Lady" is also the customary title of the wife of a baronet or knight; the proper title, now only used in legal documents or on sepulchral monuments, is "Dame"; in the latter case the usage is to prefix "Dame" to the Christian name of the wife followed by the surname of the husband, thus Dame Jame Smith, but in the former, "Lady" with the surname of the husband only, Sir John and Lady Smith. During the 15th and 16th centuries princesses or daughters of the blood royal were usually known by their Christian names with "The Lady" prefixed, e.g. The Lady Elizabeth.

Related Topics:
Baronet - Knight - Dame - 15th - 16th centuries - Princess - Blood royal

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