What Does 'Baron' Mean?

A baron is the name given to varying ranks of nobility in many countries of the world. In the United Kingdom, it is a British peer of the lowest rank. An extremely rich, powerful, famous, prosperous and often ostentatious businessman is also referred to as a baron.

Baron is a specific title given to people belonging to the nobility. It is a more generic qualification of the feudal hierarchy. King Charles II created the title of Duke of Beaufort in the Peerage of England in the year 1682. This title was given to Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester. Henry Somerset was a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, the illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset. Charles Somerset was a leader of the Lancastrian forces in the Wars of the Roses.

In the past, the term baron was used to refer to a vassal who served as a member of the king's council and a tenant-in-chief who held his lands directly from the monarch.

The name baron is actually considered as a specific title in regard to nobility, it is more of a generic feudal qualification. The Term Baron comes from 'Spanish Baron' it means "freeman, Warrior". The word was merged was with Cognate Old English word 'Beorn' which means Nobleman. However it also means "Burden Bearer".

In the time of the British Peerage scheme the barons were ranked below the viscounts, which being the lowest rank in the peerage. A female Baron is known as the honorific 'Baroness'. If this title comes in relation to the Feudal Barony by any tenure, it is known as Barony.

Outside the United Kingdom, the term baron is some times confused with the Non Peerage title Baronet. The rank in England was introduced in England by William the Conqueror.