Fake titles of nobility are supposed titles of nobility which have, in fact, been fabricated, and are not recognized by any government. They have received an increasing amount of press attention as the number of schemes which attempt to sell these titles has increased.

British titles

It is impossible to purchase genuine British titles of nobility or peerage titles, with one possible exception: the feudal title of a Scottish baron. However, it is debatable whether or not such baronies itself actually confer nobility. They generally treated as noble title for the reason that holders of such baronies are usually, upon petition, granted arms by the Lord Lyon of Scotland, even if they were not previous of an arms-bearing family. It is the opinion of some that it is this grant of arms, and not the single baronial title itself, the confer upon the holders of such titles nobility.

The British embassy warns that "the sale of British titles is prohibited by the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act, 1925." [1]. Historically, only the Sovereign has been allowed to grant titles.

The title of Lord of the Manor, a minor feudal title (and not a title of nobility), however, can be traded, though not all sellers of such are genuine. It's important to note here that this title does not grant any change in the prefix of the holder's name. The written address of this title would be "Mr. X, Lord of the Manor of Y," and the verbal address would still continue to be "Mr."

The question of trade in honorifics brings up interesting questions of what is actually being traded, and what benefit is expected to be derived from them. A comparison can be made with unaccredited university degrees.

External links

• Faketitles.com, by Richard, 7th Earl of Bradford, describing several schemes to sell fake titles of nobility.
• Are You Being Conned? by Baronage Press