Can I tell if a lord is real

[mankyfourthtoe]

A newish friend has revealed they're a 'lady' husband is a lord.
I asked interested questions but it felt vague.
Is there a way to tell if it's genuine?

There's Irish lords who are not recognised but like to keep the title going.

There's also sons of dukes and marquisisisisiz, who are Lord (first name) so&so as opposed to (first name) comma lord so&so.

spouses of KBEs are also 'Lady,' eg Emily Thornberry, who BJ falsely suggested was a member of the aristocracy, in much the same way that Harriet Harman was(n't) because her aunt married a peer.

The only proper titles you can legally buy are Scottish feudal titles and they cost about £100k. Buying one square foot of land in the Highlands does not entitle you to call yourself Lord or Lady. You cannot buy a peerage title, although you can make a massive donation to the Tory party, which pretty much amounts to the same thing!

So if they're not on @IveGotBillsTheyreMultiplying link, they must have bought it?

Buying one square foot of land in the Highlands does not entitle you to call yourself Lord or Lady.

This. I cannot believe how many people are daft enough to believe this 'buy a lordship online' nonsense. Similarly, you can't name a star or buy land on the moon.

They are not lord and lady, OP.

Are they not on it?

How embarrassing for them if not 😂 I assume people who buy these titles do it for a novelty gift and never actually use the title let alone tell people 🙈

Not necessarily, @mankyfourthtoe. It's complicated. You'd need to know where they claim to be lord of. PM me if you like.

It's on her credit card!

@BaronessHildebrand I'm on the app, I'll drag the laptop out later. Thanks

Lady as a title could be:

• Daughter of a suitably high up the pecking order Aristo (e.g. a Duke) where daughters are a Lady in their own right
• Married to a Lord (Life peer / hereditary Baron)
• Married to a knight / hereditary baronet

That is it.

buying yourself a square in the Highlands might give you technical 'lordship' but that does not allow you to be titled as Lord or Lady

All matters of honour are controlled on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen by:

• College of Arms in England
• Lyon King of Arms / Lyons's Court in Scotland

either can establish whether someone is entitled to a specific title

I'm surprised by the disbelief. i know more than a few people with hereditary titles. most don't use them in day to day life. just because you've married a Lady you're not necessarily a Lord

Only one way to find out, put a pea under her mattress or does that only work for princesses?

Burke’s Peerage.

Could be a lady as her father might be a duke?

I once knew a (rather stupid and annoying) woman who liked to tell people she was a Lady and her dh a Lord. It was true but he'd bought his title, such as it was, out of the back of Private Eye.

Lyon Court does not establish whether someone is entitled to a specific title. Lyon Court grants arms. Totally different.

The OPs new friends may well be lord & lady. I know several.

A Lady might also hold a feudal title in her own right.

This is how you do it otherwise:
elitetitles.co.uk/index.html

from their FAQ:
Yes, your Title will be legally yours and last all your life. The professional and legal service Elite Titles provides is possible by using a legally recognised "Deed" (written in English). Under International and English Law: "You have the right to call yourself, and be known as anything you like" provided there is no fraudulent intention in the process of any such changes to a person's identity.

so basically you are just changing your name to Lady x y z and it is rather like the Americans, you can have a first name of lady or duke etc.

I can guarantee that if you buy Duke, your children will not suddenly all become Lords etc.

it may tread a gray and semi-legal line - but they are selling to the gullible something that they are not... it is rather like companies who sell you 'your coat of arms' nope - no such thing - only applicable if granted through the college of arms etc.

My folks bought DS a lordship (1 square foot of land somewhere with a nominal title).

My brother did this. Pp is right, it's a load of bollocks really.

Lyon Court does not establish whether someone is entitled to a specific title. Lyon Court grants arms. Totally different. and maintains pedigrees / records - they will know...

BT bestowed me a Ladyship

They obviously misheard me and started calling me Lady Oldraver rather than my initials...I didnt correct them for years, I always used to chuckle when a letter came through with Lady on it

I'm friends with a Lady. She's completely normal. Her husband's title has been around for about 300 years. She doesn't discuss it much.

@akkakk please don't comment on the Scottish system, you are managing to sound plausible while simultaneously giving the OP incorrect information. It is entirely possible to acquire a Scottish title but not petition for arms. Lyon Court would have no record in that case.

They probably bought a Lord and Ladyship online so they now own an inch of land somewhere in the Scottish Hills. I’ve had people come out with this before. Take no notice!

Not the same but when I was pg with dd who is now 8, all letters from the hospital where I went for scans etc were addressed as “Doctor Zoflo”.

The first time I thought it was an admin error until I went for an appointment and they called my name as “Doctor” which made everyone look at me as I was all flustered.
I was quite gutted to tell them in the end as I only had to wait a few minutes

On this subject, I know a woman who bought her husband a title and he uses it as his first name.

if they're genuinely posh they'd never actually tell you.

@BaronessHildebrand
you sound very authoritative - and yes there are anomalies in the UK system - but in principle it is sound advice, and generally either place will hold pedigrees - also, it would be very unusual for any aristocratic family to hold a title but not have a coat of arms - and in Scotland, they need to be re-matriculated every generation / change

Our family has titles across England and Scotland - I suspect we either hold or are related to 99% of older titles that exist - don't know a single one without a coat of arms - but am happy to admit that I may have missed one or two on the family tree