Fake titles of nobility are supposed titles of nobility which have, in fact, been fabricated, and are not recognized by any government. They have received an increasing amount of press attention as the number of schemes which attempt to sell these titles has increased. The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the Windows of the Lodge of the Heralds. ...

British titles

It is impossible to purchase genuine British titles of nobility or peerage titles, with one possible exception: it is possible ( at least just before 28 November 2004) to acquire a feudal title ( in meaning: actual title to superiority over territorial entity) to a Scottish barony. However, it is debatable whether or not acquiring of the right to such a barony itself actually confers nobility. The noble rank of Baron derived from such a feudal barony for the reason that holders of such baronies are usually, upon petition, granted arms by the Lord Lyon of Scotland, even if they were not previous of an arms-bearing family. It is the opinion of some that it is this grant of arms, and not the single title to a barony itself, the confer upon the holders of such titles nobility under the rank of Baron, because the grant of arms in baronial form is a form of official confirmation of a baronial title by the British Crown upon a person, who has acquired the right to such a barony. Lord Lyon acted on behalf of the Sovereign ( the UK single Fons Honorum), therefore such a grant of baronial arms by Letters Patent is an form of re-grant of baronial title by the British Crown. The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the Windows of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... The Peerage is a system of titles of nobility which exists in the United Kingdom and is one part of the British honours system. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages with Official Status English Scottish Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Various rulers or governments of Europe, of Japan bestow or recognise the title of baron. ... Arms of the Office of the Lord Lyon The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that kingdom, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the oldest Heraldic court in the world that... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages with Official Status English Scottish Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

The British embassy to the United States, warns that "the sale of British titles is prohibited by the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act, 1925." [1]. Historically, only the Sovereign has been allowed to grant titles. The adjective sovereign is used to refer to a state of sovereignty. ...

The title of Lord of the Manor, a minor feudal title (and not a title of nobility), however, can be traded, though not all sellers of such are genuine. It's important to note here that this title does not grant any change in the prefix of the holder's name. The written address of this title would be "Mr. X, Lord of the Manor of Y," and the verbal address would still continue to be "Mr." In England, Lord of the Manor is a minor, feudal title. ... Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ...

The question of trade in honorifics brings up interesting questions of what is actually being traded, and what benefit is expected to be derived from them. A comparison can be made with unaccredited university degrees.

External links

• Faketitles.com, by Richard, 7th Earl of Bradford, describing several schemes to sell fake titles of nobility.
• Are You Being Conned? by Baronage Press