Can the title of Count/Countess still be passed down 400 yrs later?

Question

I know that the title can be passed down to children. Then when the children have kids, those kids get the title. And so on. 400 years later, can you still have the title? (even if you don't have the property or the jewels to prove it)

Answer 1

of course.  

How long has the Duchess of Alba's title been in the same family?

Answer 2

Technically, yes. My mother's cousin is technically a viscount, even though the title is now meaningless in French society (unless you're dealing with other blue-bloods), and his grandfather lost the last of the family's inheritance.

If he had any sons, the eleder would be viscount after him, but since he has only daughters, I suspect the title will fall into desherence, since I don't even know if it's currently legally possible to have some male relative take it up again after he dies.

Answer 3

The title continues until there is no longer any family member to continue the line.

Answer 4

Yes, the title can still be active,but the owners impoverished. As long as there are male heiers to continue the line,the title goes on to the next generations.Many aristocrats have had to sell their estates,paintings and knick-knacks because of the high taxes they must pay,not to mention the upkeep--the maintanenace,repairs,insurance....

Answer 5

Rachelle is mostly right. But some titles do pass in the female line - it's a question of what is the rule in the realm the title comes from, and sometimes the wording of the original grant of the title. It is very rare for British titles to pass in the female line, but a few do - the Scottish Earldom of Mar, for example.

Similarly, in Britain "the kids" can't get the title - it goes to the eldest son, and there can only ever by one "Earl of X" at a time. However, there are countries (e.g. some of the German principalities)where all the sons of a titled person inherit the title. So when talking about titles it's important always to specify which country you mean - one size does not fit all!

Answer 6

Yes, the linage is all important it has to be through the elder mail lineage Younger siblings loose out

Answer 7

Yes, the title goes on forever.  But usually only thru the line of eldest sons.

Answer 8

As long as the aristocrat family have an heir to inherit the title of "Count" otherwise it will go back to the Crown. Countess is usually a courtesy title bestowed upon the wife and daughters of a "Count." However, titles are not passed down through the female line, but only through the male line. For example, if the last Count in the family had only one daughter, she will not inherit his title. Therefore when he dies, his title of Count will be extincted or reverse back to the Crown, who will usually reward this to another aristocrat family.

Note: Even if a Count lost all his wealth including his property and jewels, he is still a Count. Historically, a Count would not loose his title unless the monarch stripped his title away from him because he was lost in favour or committed treason. An aristocrat is not measured by his wealth (although most of them are usually extremely wealthy) but by his "family heritage" or his "blue-blood" connections. A commoner man can win the lottery tomorrow, however, he will never be an aristocrat, however, an aristocrat is always an aristocrat even if he became a pauper.

Answer 9

maybe I am not sure you would have to have a time line!