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
Gerald FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Kildare him the title should have passed to his brother John, de jure 6th Earl, although his son-in-law, the Earl of Ormonde, also claimed the title in right of his wife, Elizabeth. The dispute was finlly resolved in favour of John's son Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare. Gerald FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Kildare Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Kildare (d. before 24 June 1428) was an Irish peer. Kildare was the son of Maurice FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Kildare and Elizabeth Burghersh. Kildare served as Justiciar of Ireland in 1405. In 1407 he defeated the O'Carrol clan at Kilkenny.