Hi Jan, Sorry if this was replied to before now, but I have it as a posting from last evening, probably because you are in New Zealand and I am in the old country. Your titles are not British. We don't have Counts, the British equivalent being an Earl. It is most common in Middle Europe, i.e. Poland, Bulgaria, the former Austro-Hungarian Empire etc for the children all to inherit their parents titles. That is why there are so many Polish Counts and Countesses. As for Sir Knight, sounds a bit fishy to me!! However he might be Sir George Malcolm, Knight, presumably Knight Bachelor, which is the "bog standard" type of knight to differentiate him from a Knight of one of the Ancient orders like the Bath or the Thistle and from a Baronet, which is the only form of hereditary knight. hope this helps, Regards, Mark Sutherland-Fisher Genealogist: Clan Sutherland Co-Genealogist: Clan Mackenzie Professional Genealogist specialising in the Highlands and 18th century see my web-site: http://www.highland-family-heritage.co.uk ----- Original Message ----- From: Jan <webbedfeet@xtra.co.nz> To: <SCT-INVERNESS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 09, 2000 10:52 PM Subject: [SCT-INV-L] TITLES (CEASING) > Hi list > I have titles on two branches of my tree at present which amuse me. I would > like to know how they start or where they derive from. Is it place names? My > Counts daughter became a Countess but these titles seem to drop away. Is it > just modern times that caused this? > > Why would a person have the Title of "Sir Knight" when their name was George > Malcolm? > > My Count was "Count Usedom" and Usedom was his sole name. > > Any help on these matters greatly appreciated so I can have the last laugh > with a family member who is taking the mickey out of my research. > Thanks > Jan > > >