Can you call yourself Sir when you're not?

[aerosocks]

Does anyone know whether it is an offence to call yourself 'Sir' if you haven't been knighted?

Someone I know has been doing this, he's a bit shady and we suspect he isn't Sir (firstname) (lastname) at all.

@FrippEnos

You can buy a title and legally call your self sir stc.

No, you can't buy a knighthood. It is an honour bestowed by the Monarch.

You can buy one of those 'Lord of the Manor' of some random village things, but that would entitle you to be 'Lord Somebody', not 'Sir Whatsit Somebody'.

[quote Theworldisfullofgs]No, it's illegal. It is an honorific that's a gift from the Crown

deedpolloffice.com/change-name/restrictions-on-names[/quote]
No. That means you can't change you NAME to Sir, or Lord or Doctor.

It doesn't mean you can''t use the title.

aerosocks

If you say so

sealandgov.org/shop/

My teens call each other "Sir" all the time. As in "I think you'll find I was sat there Sir". Often followed by "biting their thumb" and quoting Shakespeare. That's not really what you mean though. And yes, they are odd!

@CiaoForNiao

My teens call each other "Sir" all the time. As in "I think you'll find I was sat there Sir". Often followed by "biting their thumb" and quoting Shakespeare. That's not really what you mean though. And yes, they are odd!

What I'm talking about is a man inveigling himself into positions of trust by people thinking he is 'Sir Somebody Something' rather than just ordinary 'Mr Somebody Something'.

In the way someone might say they were 'Colonel' or 'Dame' or 'Reverend' as their title when they're not.

You can buy a title and legally call your self sir stc.

sealandgov.org/shop/

If you want to identify as holding a made-up dukedom you can do that without paying £500 to the "Prince Regent of Sealand"! (Sealand appears to be an oilrig in the North Sea).

I can call myself Her Grace the Duchess of Mordor. It has exactly the same legal status as being a Duchess of the principality of Sealand, and will be taken just as seriously.