Freiherr - Use of The Title Prior To Abolition of Nobility

Use of The Title Prior To Abolition of Nobility

As with most titles and designations within the nobility in the German-speaking areas of Europe, the rank was normally hereditary and would generally be used together with the nobiliary particle of von or zu (sometimes both as von und zu) before a family name.

The inheritance of titles of nobility in most German-speaking areas was not restricted by primogeniture as is the baronial title in Britain and most Latin monarchies (France, Portugal, Spain, much of Italy). Hence, the titles applied equally to all male-line descendants of the original grantee in perpetuity: All legitimate children of a Freiherr shared his title and rank, and could be referred to as Freiherr. The wife of a Freiherr is titled Freifrau (literally "free lady"), and the daughter of a Freiherr is called Freiin (short for Freiherrin). Both titles are translated in English as "Baroness".

In Prussia and some other countries in northern Europe, the title of Freiherr was -as long as the monarchy existed - usually used preceding a person's given name (e.g. Freiherr Hans von Schwarz). In Austria-Hungary and Bavaria, however, it would by contrast be inserted between the given and the family name (e.g. Hans Freiherr von Schwarz).