Baron
A baron is a member of the lowest rank of British peerage, ranking below a viscount. A female of that rank is a baroness. A baron is said to hold a barony (plural baronies).Initially, barons were men who held land directly from the monarch. A barony was created in one of two ways: by a writ of summons directing someone to Parliament, or by letters patent. Baronies are thus no longer directly related to land ownership. Unlike many other British peerages a barony can be inheirited by a daugter provided she has no brothers.
The word baron is from an Old French word baro for 'man', that is 'vassal'.
In the late twentieth century non-hereditary life peers were introduced in Britain. These have all been barons, though in principle there is no reason why a life peerage of a higher rank should not be created. Normally Baron X is called Lord X and his wife is called Lady X. In the case of women given life peerages of their own, however, the convention is to style them as Baroness X rather than Lady X. The husband of a Baroness in her own right does not recive a style.
Baron is the name of several communes in France:
- in the Gironde département
- in the Gard département
- in the Oise département
