Earl

An "earl" is a historical title of nobility used in Britain, ranking below a duke and above a viscount. Traditionally, earls were noble landowners responsible for governing regions called earldoms, collecting taxes, and maintaining order. The term has roots in Anglo-Saxon and Norse titles and was formalized into the British peerage system. Today, being an earl is mostly ceremonial, awarded as an honor rather than for landowning duties, and earls are addressed as "Lord" followed by their title. The female equivalent is typically titled "countess."