How do you get a "Lord" or "Sir" title?

Question

I've noticed that some people has this "title" before their names. Can somebody explain me from were these knighthood titles are coming from?

Answer 1

Being dubed by Royalty or taking it by power!!!!!

Answer 2

If you are a British subject and do something noteworthy, you may be included on the "honours" list for a knighthood or even a peerage. Those who are listed are generally recommended by the government and the honours are conferred by the Queen.

There was a scandal a few years ago about people who gave large donations to the Labour Party receiving honours that others may have felt that they really did not deserve.

Answer 3

The title of "Sir" means that you have been knighted.You must be nominated and then win the honor for some extraordinary work achievement. Here is the information from http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page4877....

"A knighthood (or a damehood, its female equivalent) is one of the highest honours an individual in the United Kingdom can achieve.



While in past centuries knighthood used to be awarded solely for military merit, today it recognises significant contributions to national life.

Recipients today range from actors to scientists, and from school head teachers to industrialists.

A knighthood cannot be bought and it carries no military obligations to the Sovereign.

The Queen (or a member of the Royal Family acting on her behalf) confers knighthood in Britain, either at a public Investiture or privately.

The ceremony involves the ceremonial dubbing of the knight by The Queen, and the presentation of insignia.

By tradition, clergy receiving a knighthood are not dubbed, as the use of a sword is thought inappropriate for their calling.

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."

And from http://www.honours.gov.uk/

"Who can be nominated?

Anyone can be nominated, but only exceptional people are honoured. To be in with a chance of seeing your candidate on the Honours List, make sure your nomination has what it takes to make it all the way to Buckingham Palace. Achievement comes in many forms but what we're looking for is someone who has made a difference in their field of work or community.

Honours can be awarded for all sorts of work - paid or unpaid - but your nominee must still be involved in the activity for which they're nominated.

Has your nominee:

made a difference to their community or field of work

brought distinction to British life and enhanced its reputation

exemplified the best sustained and selfless voluntary service

demonstrated innovation and entrepreneurship

carried the respect of their peers

changed things, with an emphasis on achievement

improved the lot of those less able to help themselves

displayed moral courage and vision in making and delivering tough choices "

The title of "Lord" means that you are part of the inherited peerage.The only way to be a "Lord" is to be born one,or to be so extraordinarily good at what you do,not only are your achievements worthy of knightood,but you continue to do well and are made a peer of the realm by monarch and Parliament. Very few people gain this honor.Lawrence Olivier,Margaret Thatcher,Tim Rice, and Andrew Lloyd-Webber are recipients of this honor.

Answer 4

Just an aside, only British subjects who are knighted can use the title "Sir". Pres. Bush recieved an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth but as he is not British he is not "Sir George".  But Sir Anthony Hopkins can use the title for his honorary knighthood.  

Answer 5

You give lots of money to the political party in power.

Answer 6

You get them when you deserve them!

Answer 7

Lord is a style of address for a peer. It can be used for a marquess, earl, viscount, and baron. A duke is not referred to as Lord, rather "Your Grace". Lord is not a title in itseld, it a style used for someone who is a peer. So you would address the Earl of Ulster as Lord Ulster etc in speech.

In the House of Lords, all memebrs are addressed as Lord. Again it is a style rather than a title.

Lord is also used for some judges as a style.

Sir, is also a style, applied to Knights.

Answer 8

This is complicated but I will have a go.

Some knighthoods are hereditary, which means that the title is handed down to the eldest son upon the death of the father, and some knighthoods are awarded to people who have given outstanding services to industry, politics, medicine or sport etc.

Lords are members of the aristocracy, and some of the titles date back hundreds of years, these are known as hereditary peers.

Again, some people can be enobled for the same services listed above.

I hope this goes some way to explain.

Answer 9

Good question !

Many centuries ago, people, most officers in the army, could get the prohibition to put the titles Lord and Sir before their names.

In the mid ages you could only recieve a tilte if you did do something positive for the monarchy.  For exemple winning a batle against the enemy under yr command.

In out time, lol, you can get title for being a singer, or making art.

Someday they will give you title for taking drugs.

Because the governments put more value to that than getting titles on traditional ways.

In my family, who are Nobles, we call it, the new crapp nobles.

Nobility that doesn't mean anything.

The only different is, what is positive, that the title is just individual and will stop when you die.

Long time ago yr title went to your kids etc. etc.

Answer 10

you can buy one, google it, i saw somewhere