Do people get knighted in the US?

Question

As you have to knighted by the Queen is it strictly for countries with Royal families or just in Britian or what?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes, in alleys every night !

Answer 2

mostly those who were born in the uk and emigrated to usa ,an example bob hope,jerry springer,charlie chaplin,carnegie,

Answer 3

Only British citizens, or those of Commonwealth countries are entitled to use the title 'sir' or 'dame' after being knighted. All other knighthoods are honorary. People like Caspar Weinberger and Bob Geldoff have honorary 'K's' only and cannot legally use 'Sir'. The media is wrong to refer to Geldoff as 'Sir Bob' - he is not. He is Mr Bob Geldoff, knight bachelor.

Answer 4

The US Constitution specifically prohibits titles of nobility.  Some Americans have received honorary knighthoods from the British monarch, but it would be bad form, if not illegal, for them to use those titles here.  I suppose they could use such titles if they became British subjects, but the kind of people who receive such knighthoods (such as then-General Dwight Eisenhower) are some of those least likely to give up their American citizenship.  

I believe that any citizen of a Commonwealth country is eligible to be knighted for outstanding service or achievement.  I'm not sure whether other monarchies still confer knighthood, but France still confers the Legion of Honor, which at least in some cases is the equivalent of knighthood, to foreigners as well as French citizens.  And France hasn't been a monarchy since the late 19th century!

Answer 5

No, we have no King/Queen.

but in some monarchies, foreigners can be commemorated for some great deed and given an 'honorary knighthood / ladyship" or a US citizen could marry into foreign royalty (very unlikely), usually they'd have to give up their citizenship.

Answer 6

No. When America was founded, it was decided that there wouldn't be any honor carrying a title. The nearest US equivalent is the Congressional Medal of Honor. Youre still singled out and 'elevated', but without a title its thought egalitarian. Republicanism hasnt stopped numerous US citizens (eg. Ronald Regan, Casper Weinberger, Bill Gates)accepting honorary k's. Its a bit like an honorary Doctorate.

All other world monarchies can theoretically grant knighthods. In some cases republics like France and Italy keep knighthoods in their list of honors.

Answer 7

Here's a simple answer: yes,but the title of "sir" or "lady" can not be used by an American citizen.

http://www.royal.gov/uk/output/Page4877....

"Foreign citizens occasionally receive honorary knighthoods; they are not dubbed, and they do not use the style 'Sir'.

Such knighthoods are conferred by The Queen, on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on those who have made an important contribution to relations between their country and Britain.

Foreign citizens given knighthoods over the years include Chancellor Kohl, President Mitterrand and Mayor Giuliani of New York."

Answer 8

USA is a republic. Does that answer your question?

Answer 9

Not exactly but we do have a form of being knighted which we call the "Purple Heart". Basically it is the highest honor a person can have and it is given by self sacrifice while serving the country. Its a rather popular award so it is not as rare as the honor of being knighted is.

Answer 10

Knighthoods bestowed on American citizens by the Queen are called 'Honourary Knighthoods'.

American citizens have received knighthoods from the Queen.  Steven Spielberg for example, received a knighthood from the Queen.

FOXNews.com - Sir Steven? Spielberg to be Knighted - Celebrity ... Steven Spielberg is to be knighted by Great Britain, an honor conferred on ... Final four get well-deserved break; Fresh video, game and music releases ...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,717,... - Cached

Steven Spielberg To Be Knighted, Director Of 'E.T.' Doesn't Get ... Queen Elizabeth II will bestow a knighthood on the director of Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/12/2... - Cached

BBC News | UK | Spielberg gets Royal honour

Hollywood film director Steven Spielberg is to receive an honorary knighthood for ... Spielberg gets Royal honour. At the Oscars with actress wife Kate ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1091938.st... - Cached

BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | Spielberg receives Royal honour Director Steven Spielberg is given an honorary knighthood in Washington for his contribution to the British film industry.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment...

There is also a female version of a knighthood and it's called a dameship.  Elizabeth Taylor (British born, American Citizen) was made a Dame by the Queen.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor - A Tribute

http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=UwKplSziot...

INTO THE LISTS OF AMERICAN KNIGHTS

CNN.com - Giuliani 'humbled' by knighthood - October 15, 2001 Giuliani joins a prestigious list of Americans to have been made honorary knights. They include former presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush, ...

http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/10/... - Cached

KNIGHTHOOD

Recent examples of U. S. citizens who have been knighted by the Queen of England ...... When European knights enter the scene, Americans again have some ...

http://www.apfn.org/apfn/knighthood.htm - Cached

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | 'Arise, er, Mister Gates'

None have the right to use the title "Sir". None have been on one knee; none have ... as the long list of Americans who have done shows, this is not so. ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magaz...

I think this is what a knight is supposed to look like in the next video clip : . . .

Jousting at the Tower of London

http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=z64AzHIdgK...

Answer 11

It is an entirely foreign concept in the US.

Answer 12

NOpe people in the US doesn't get knighted, plus we have no queen and king, it's not just in BRitain either.

Answer 13

There seems to be more and more Irish people getting knighted so I can't see why not.............

Answer 14

To be Knighted

isn't customary in USA

but to be benighted is.

Need I name names?

Answer 15

Put very simply, America has no order of knights of its own, but  Americans can be knighted by Kings or Queens from other countries on an honorary basis.

There is a motorcycle club there called 'American Knights', and the Ku Klux Klan also think of themselves as knights, but obviously, this is not a royally-bestowed title.

Sidney Poitier, who had dual citizenship (US/Bahamian) was knighted in 1974........ Here is an extensive page listing Americans who are also knights, including John Paul Getty, Andre Previn, Ronald Regan, and George Bush Senior- check it out, there's scores of them! http://www.apfn.org/apfn/knighthood.htm I think my favourite is Mohammed Ali, he was give a knighthood by the king of Morocco.

The titles are honorary, as the US isn't part of the UK or any other monarchy, but they can still be handed out, just as universities can give honorary degrees to people who were never students there. As being a knight is a pretty honorary job these days anyway, there's probably little real difference in status between British knights and American ones, or those of any other nationality for that matter.

Answer 16

America doesn't have a Queen or King, so no you can't get knight in the US

Answer 17

No!

Answer 18

The king of computer software Bill Gates has received an honorary knighthood from the Queen. (Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.)

Mr Gates, 48, the world's wealthiest man, said it was "a great honour" to be recognised for his business skills and for his work on poverty reduction.

Answer 19

No knighted only happens in countries with monarchies.