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(Redirected from English peer)
This article is about the actual peerage. For the published work by this title, see Collins's Peerage of England.
Ranks of nobility in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707
The ranks of the English peerage are, in descending order, duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron. While most newer English peerages descend only in the male line, many of the older ones (particularly older baronies) can descend through females. Such peerages follow the old English inheritance law of moieties so all daughters (or granddaughters through the same root) stand as co-heirs, so some such titles are in such a state of abeyance between these.
Baronets, while holders of hereditary titles, as such are not peers and not entitled to stand for election in the House of Lords. Knights, dames and holders of other non-hereditary orders, decorations, and medals are also not peers.
The following tables only show peerages, still in existence. For lists of every peerage created at a particular rank, including extinct, dormant, and abeyant peerages, see:
Each peer is listed only by their highest English title. Peers known by a higher title in one of the other peerages are shown in blue, and peers with more than one title of the same rank in the Peerage of England are shown in orange.