How to Address a Duke

To continue my series on forms of address in Regency England, I'm going to tackle the duke. (Not literally, since I don't actually know a duke, just tackle the subject. Know any cute ones who'd like to meet me?) Fortunately, Allison Lane did such a great job on the subject, I'm just going to use her article more or less as appeared in The Regency Reader.

The Duke is the highest rank of the peerage
Controls a dukedom or duchy
His wife is a duchess

A duke is always associated with a place, hence his title is Duke of Placename. By the time his ancestors became dukes, they had likely accumulated several other titles. Thus his legal name (such as on a marriage license) will include his full name and all honors. His heir gets the courtesy use of his second title. His heir's heir can use the third one, if it exists. If there is no a courtesy title to use, the heir would be called Lord Familyname.

Example: When Thomas George Francis Stiffrump, Duke of VastCounty, Marquess of BigCity, Earl of Hamlet, baron Stiffrump, and baron ForgottenUncle, weds Lady Mary Perfectwife, she becomes Mary, Duchess of VastCounty (note that she loses any family name)

When addressing the VastCountys to their face, you would say:

You Grace – this is formal and always correct.

Duke, this is short and snappy.

VastCounty - likely how his acquaintances address him, though not usually females

Nickname - this would be used only by family/close friends - the nickname might be from school or a shortened form of the title he used in childhood; it is rarely his given name

Her: Your Grace

Her first name, but only by invitation and only by those of close acquaintance. Note: she would never be addressed as Lady Mary, for that would mean she was the unmarried daughter of a duke.

The Duke of VastCounty will sign all correspondence VastCounty

The Duchess of VastCounty will sign her correspondence Mary VastCounty

The VastCounty children:
The oldest son is VastCounty's heir. As such he has the courtesy use of VastCounty's second title (in this case Marquess of BigCity.) Whatever the actual title, he will have the precedence of a marquess. His eldest son may use as a courtesy VastCounty's third title, if one exists (in this case, Earl of Hamlet.) Despite being heir to a duke, BigCity remains a commoner in the eyes of the law. He uses his family name only on legal papers. Being raised as the heir, he will be more arrogant and aloof than his brothers.

The younger sons will all be Lord Firstname Stiffrump (they cannot use any of their father's titles.) They are addressed as Lord Firstname or Lord Firstname Stiffrump. Never as Lord Stiffrump (this would indicate that they were in the direct line of succession.) 'Lord' is a courtesy title they will keep for life, but they remain commoners in the eyes of the law. And when Lord Alex Stiffrump weds, his wife will be called Lady Alex Stiffrump or Lady Alex. Never Lady Stiffrump or Lady Herfirstname. His sons are mere misters.

VastCounty's daughters are Lady Firstname Stiffrump. They are addressed as Lady Firstname or Lady Firstname Stiffrump. Never as Lady Stiffrump, for that would imply that they were wed to Lord Stiffrump. Again, this is a courtesy title they hold for life, though if they wed someone with a title, they will use only their husband's title. If their husband has no title of his own, they will be Lady Firstname Newlastname. Their husbands will remain Mr. Newlastname.

Another great source for addressing everyone from a duke to a worker can be found on Laura Chinet's website.

Next time: How to address a Marquis (or, as the English say, "markwees"...makes you shudder, doesn't it?)