Earl

Earl is a title of nobility in the peerage of the United Kingdom and historically in England, Scotland, and Ireland. The term derives from the Old English eorl, meaning nobleman or warrior, and is related to similar terms in Old Norse. In the Norman and later English tradition, the title of earl was used to translate the continental rank of count.

In the British peerage, an earl ranks below a marquess and above a viscount; the wife of an earl is a countess, and a peer holding the title is typically addressed as "The Earl of [Place]." Earls are created by letters patent or, historically, by writ, with a territorial designation indicating the associated estate or region. The duties and privileges of earls have varied over time, but historically they served as regional governors and military leaders, with seats in the Lords in earlier centuries; in modern times, many earls are part of the peerage without automatic seats in Parliament unless they are life peers or hereditary peers elected under certain arrangements.

As a given name and surname, Earl is common in the English-speaking world. Notable people named Earl include Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the United States; Earl Scruggs, a bluegrass musician; Earl Campbell, Hall of Fame running back; and Earl Grey, a British statesman after whom the tea is named. The name has also appeared in various works of fiction and film.

Today the title remains part of the British nobility, though the creation and inheritance rules have evolved. The concept of an earl continues to be used in heraldry, genealogical studies, and discussions of medieval and modern aristocracy.