What Does The Title “Baronet” Mean?
Baronet is the British hereditary rank of honour. It was first created by James I in the year 1611, to amass funds supposedly for support of troops in Ulster. The “baronet” is neither an order for knighthood nor is it a part of the peerage. In hierarchy, the baronet ranks below a baron but above all knights with the exception of the Knight of the Garter. A baronet (female equivalent, a baronetess), is awarded its title “the baronetcy” by the British crown. Baronets make use of the title Sir” before their name. Though a knighthood is applied to an individual only, a baronetcy is hereditary. The eldest son of a baronet who is born through wedlock is entitled to the right of baronetcy upon the death of his father. However he is not officially recognized as a baronet until his name is on the Roll. Wives of baronets are not baronetesses. Women holding baronetcies in their own right in their own right are baronetesses.
