Origin of titles?

Question

What is the significance of titles such as Prince of Wales, Duke of York and Earl of Gloucester? How were they decided upon?

Answer 1

The King or Queen awards them to lucky folks. Then they become hereditary titles

Answer 2

Definition of Duke:

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French duc, from Latin duc-, dux, from ducere to lead -- more at TOW

1.  a sovereign male ruler of a continental European duchy;

2 .  a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank; especially a member of the highest grade of the British peerage;

3.  dukedom is the noun;  and

Definition of Earl:

Etymology: Middle English erl, from Old English eorl warrior, nobleman; akin to Old Norse jarl warrior, nobleman

1.  a member of the British peerage ranking below a marquess and above a viscount

2.  Earldom is the noun.

And you must check out http://www32.brinkster.com/ronturrentine... which has a good table with titles and where they came from.