There are some titles of nobility that seem to really capture the imagination of the wider world.
At the top of the aristocratic hierarchy are the dukes and even the royal dukes that entrance the world with their great deeds and legendary lives.
And at the other end of the spectrum of intriguing titles are the ancient lordships titles which are among the oldest and most historic of aristocratic ranks.
One of the most popular queries regarding lordship titles relates to the well-known phrase; Lord of the Manor.
What Is A Lord Of The Manor?
During the feudal periods of the Middle Ages, certain individuals would attain or acquire an elevated social rank that denoted a range of outstanding characteristics.
One of the oldest noble titles was that of a Lord, and during these historic times, the lords would often be the owners of land or property in the burgeoning towns and villages. These landowners and lords would usually have a grand home that was of a higher calibre than the local villagers’ homes or the peasant workers houses.
Over time, these grand homes became known as Manor Houses, and the land and estates owned by the lords became known as their manor.
In the centuries since these medieval lordships, the use of the word manor has come to suggest both the land itself and the grand home belonging to the overseer or the landowner.
This is what has given rise to the popular phrase; the Lord of the manor.
What Are Lord Of The Manor Titles?
As the term Lord of the Manor became more widely used and more popular, people naturally began to wonder how to acquire such a historic noble title.
Throughout the evolution of the nobility, the titles of lords and ladies were among the most prevalent and most popular titles of aristocracy. Even though some of the oldest lordships date back to ancient times, the title of lord has remained a popular noble title and endures to this day.
Many of the lordships of long ago were passed down through the generations, meaning that when a holder of a Lord title died, if it was a hereditary title, then the sons or descendants of the Lord could inherit the title and use the styling of a lord for themselves.
Sometimes these hereditary lordships included the large homes or estates that belonged to the original bearer of the title. Over time, however, these estates were often sold or neglected, and so there were occasions when a family member might inherit a lordship title but it didn’t necessarily have any land or property along with it.
Buying A Lord Of The Manor Title
These days, it is possible to acquire a lordship as a simple purchase, meaning that even those not in line to inherit a lordship from a family member can legitimately become a genuine lord and join the esteemed ranks of the nobility.
While it’s possible to buy these bona fide lordships and noble titles, they tend to be relatively rare. Even though the title of Lord was one of the most popular noble titles, the chances of these becoming available to buy are quite limited, something that only adds to their exclusivity and value.
With many of the Lordship titles that are available today, the vast majority are offers purely of the title itself. It is incredibly rare for an aristocratic title to be offered for sale alongside a substantial property or noble estate. These historic family seats tend to remain within the family as much as possible, and even if portions of land or houses are sold off, it is usually as a separate transaction to the selling of a noble title.
This is why most of the legitimate lordships that are available to buy consist solely of a genuine noble title and do not include ownership rights of property or land.
There are some services that do make a small portion of land available – just enough to satisfy the legal requirements – and these lordships are often sold as Lord of the Manor titles. While they do include a transfer of land ownership, they don’t usually include the manor houses or country estates that the original Lords of the Manor would have known.
Are There Lady Of The Manor Titles?
The Lord of the Manor has become a much-used term in many societies, and since Lords and their Ladies have been a common pairing for millennia, it’s natural to wonder if there are any Lady of the Manor titles.
After all, the famous noble Ladies of history have captured the imagination of people all over the world for centuries. Tales and fables of legendary noble ladies, such as Lady Guinevere or Lady Jane Gray, make for just as memorable stories and historic accounts as the lords of the ages.
In modern times, the titles of noble ladies are usually subject to the same criteria as modern lordships. These are among the most popular noble titles, and as such, there are a number of these still around today, some of which are even available to buy.
In a similar way to the lordship titles that are for sale, these customarily don’t include the large and lavish manor houses that many of history’s great Ladies would have enjoyed. Yet the esteem and noble rank of possessing this type of noble title has lost none of its charm.
The days of the stereotypical Lords and Ladies of the Manor largely belong to another era. There may be occasional examples of these stately nobles still around in the modern world, but the great majority of manorial landowners who support the entire town or village are a character from a time long gone.
Yet the esteem and respect that contemporary Lords and Ladies still command has endured to the present day. While a Lord of the Manor title may not bring with it a beautiful country home or an army of workers, there is still great value in being the proud holder of a genuine Lord or Lady title of nobility.