Using the title Lord or Lady?

[stevensfo]

My mother is in her eighties and always enjoyed, and still does enjoy, the lighthearted comedy 'Keeping up Appearances' where the snobbish Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) answers the phone with "The lady of the house speaking". When I call her, I often ask if it's the 'Lady of the house'.

So I was thinking about this as a fun birthday present:
https://establishedtitles.com/

According to the website, on owning a tiny bit of land in Scotland, you legally have the right to use the title of Lord or Lady.

But joking aside, is this strictly true? If it's so easy, surely half of the UK would be using the title.

Steve....Lord of the remote control and still hoping for an Earldom!

Moderator Message:
This whole thread is much more akin to something I vaguely remember being discussed in pubs. For that reason I'm moving it into our "pub". (leaving a link). - Chris

[AleisterCrowley]

Laird in Scotland , surely?
I doubt these titles have any legal status

[PinkDalek]

See, for example:

https://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Lord#:~:text=The%20easiest%20way%20to%20be%20called%20a%20Lord,an%20authentic%20Lord%20is%20a%20bit%20more%20challenging.

[Sobraon]

I am led to believe that my daughter is buying my son a "Principality of Sealand " title (Google: Sealand titles) for his upcoming birthday. OK a little wacky I suppose but there is an interesting backstory about the place see "The History of Sealand " on damninteresting.com

[AleisterCrowley]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell,_Norway

I'm going to see if the Dukedom is available

I may just stick with Prince of Darkness

[Arborbridge]

I am led to believe that my daughter is buying my son a "Principality of Sealand " title (Google: Sealand titles) for his upcoming birthday. OK a little wacky I suppose but there is an interesting backstory about the place see "The History of Sealand " on damninteresting.com

I've sailed past it a few times. It's a shame that your son will never be able to occupy it or repel boarders as it has never been recognised as " the world's smallest country". It would be fun, though wouldn't it? - though it daresay trying to actually live there would be a money pit.

[ReformedCharacter]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell,_Norway

I'm going to see if the Dukedom is available

I may just stick with Prince of Darkness

Come on, you've already bagged The Great Beast and The Wickedest Man In The World, what more titles could you want?

RC

[UncleEbenezer]

AIUI, the titles are unrestricted. So long as you don't use them to perpetrate identity theft or other fraud. Look at the number of entertainers whose stage names include titles! And I daresay most of us have people in our lives - not necessarily even within the family - who we speak of as "his lordship", etc. Not to mention irreverant corruptions, as when Her Worship becomes Her Warship, or wordplays where an unasked-for "Sir" (originating in usages like "would Sir like a cuppa tea?") becomes "Cur".

Laird in Scotland , surely?

Other usages are available. As in Þeign of Glamis and of Cawdor (even if Shakespeare anglicised the spelling).

[stevensfo]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell,_Norway

I'm going to see if the Dukedom is available

I may just stick with Prince of Darkness

I think that Peter Mandelson already has that title. He was called that (or something similar) following the second or third time he found himself in trouble yet still convinced a judge to grant an injunction over anyone in the media discussing him. I remember it distinctly due to our local BBC radio thrown into chaos when everyone wanted to talk about him. Yet he slipped away into the shadows, the dreaded ring passed onto Dominic Cummings.

Steve

[Mike4]

I'm pretty sure Ozzy Osbourne claimed the title "Price of Darkness" for himself way back in the 70s!

[dealtn]

I'm pretty sure Ozzy Osbourne claimed the title "Price of Darkness" for himself way back in the 70s!

Wasn't that a certain "Vincent" in those horror films I wasn't allowed to watch as a wee nipper?

[richlist]

We have someone in our family who has done exactly what the OP is considering. I think they own a very, very small plot of land in Scotland and are entitled to use the title Lady. Apparently they have a lot of fun with it. Whilst they can't e.g. change the name in their driving licence or passport they do enjoy booking tickets & hotels using the title Lady. I'm not aware if its resulted in any special treatment when attending events of using accomodation......I'll have ask them.

[Mike4]

I'm pretty sure Ozzy Osbourne claimed the title "Price of Darkness" for himself way back in the 70s!

Wasn't that a certain "Vincent" in those horror films I wasn't allowed to watch as a wee nipper?

I think you're right....

But on re-reading and seeing my spelling mistake, I claim for myself the (similar but less scary) title "Price of Darkness" lol!

[Mike88]

You don't get much land - precisely 1 sq ft. I don't see the point in being Laird over 1 sq ft of land.

[Mike4]

You don't get much land - precisely 1 sq ft. I don't see the point in being Laird over 1 sq ft of land.

Isn't the point explained in the OP? To get the title?

[Mike88]

You don't get much land - precisely 1 sq ft. I don't see the point in being Laird over 1 sq ft of land.

Isn't the point explained in the OP? To get the title?

I think you have to be the Laird or Lady of something. And that is precisely 1 sq ft of land. You might as well use the title without purchasing the land as both are equally meaningless.

[Mike4]

You don't get much land - precisely 1 sq ft. I don't see the point in being Laird over 1 sq ft of land.

Isn't the point explained in the OP? To get the title?

I think you have to be the Laird or Lady of something. And that is precisely 1 sq ft of land. You might as well use the title without purchasing the land as both are equally meaningless.

True, but the market for these plots of land is for people with a sense of fun/the absurd! Lighten up, eh?

[Mike88]

Isn't the point explained in the OP? To get the title?

I think you have to be the Laird or Lady of something. And that is precisely 1 sq ft of land. You might as well use the title without purchasing the land as both are equally meaningless.

True, but the market for these plots of land is for people with a sense of fun/the absurd! Lighten up, eh?

OK. So I'll change my user name to Victor Meldrew.

[PinkDalek]

OK. So I'll change my user name to VictorMeldrew.

To bastardise the old wording from TMF, "Sorry, that username is available":

memberlist.php?sk=a&sd=a&first_char=v&start=25

[Mike88]

OK. So I'll change my user name to VictorMeldrew.

To bastardise the old wording from TMF, "Sorry, that username is available":

memberlist.php?sk=a&sd=a&first_char=v&start=25

Will have to lighten up then.