Earl Scots or , Cornish . An earl has the title "Earl of [X]" when the title originates from a placename, or "Earl [X]" when the title comes from a surname. In either case, he is referred to as "Lord [X]", and his wife as "Lady [X]". A countess who holds an earldom in her own right also uses "Lady [X]", but her husband does not have a title (unless he has one in his own right). The eldest son of an earl, though not himself a peer, is entitled to use a courtesy title, usually the highest of his father's
Earl of Castlemaine Earl of Castlemaine The Earldom of Castlemaine was a title created in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created for Roger Palmer, the husband of Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), mistress to King Charles II. The Earl was also given the title "Baron Limerick". The title was limited to his male heirs by Barbara (i.e. as opposed, that is, to any later wife he might have) making it clear that the Earldom was for his wife's services to the King and not his own. As the only child officially fathered by the 1st Earl (which probably was not actually his) was