Strictly speaking. Though it has been used by nobles and wannabe Nobles. It after the decline of knights as a Professional Soldiering class. Thereby removing the need for squires.
Became more or less a social rank and Courtesy title. For people who weren’t Titled Knights and Nobility. But Wealthy enough with enough social clout to not be considered a typical Yeoman or Peasant. With the definition of who it referred to and where they fell on the social hierarchy changing periodically with time. But generally it referred to members of the Landed Gentry which were basically Landlords who derived most of their income via rent. Who sometimes were titled nobles, often times they weren’t. And members of the intellectual class. Lawyers, Doctors etc.
Most of the confusion as to whether it is or isn’t a Noble title stems from the social structures of the English and by extension Colonial America. And the tendency for there to be overlap between with actual titled nobility and normal run of the mill Rich people. And a small part just Conspiracy Theorists who want to see what they want to see.
Strictly speaking. Though it has been used by nobles and wannabe Nobles. It after the decline of knights as a Professional Soldiering class. Thereby removing the need for squires.
Became more or less a social rank and Courtesy title. For people who weren’t Titled Knights and Nobility. But Wealthy enough with enough social clout to not be considered a typical Yeoman or Peasant. With the definition of who it referred to and where they fell on the social hierarchy changing periodically with time. But generally it referred to members of the Landed Gentry which were basically Landlords who derived most of their income via rent. Who sometimes were titled nobles, often times they weren’t. And members of the intellectual class. Lawyers, Doctors etc.
Most of the confusion as to whether it is or isn’t a Noble title stems from the social structures of the English and by extension Colonial America. And the tendency for there to be overlap between with actual titled nobility and normal run of the mill Rich people. And a small part just Conspiracy Theorists who want to see what they want to see.