Sir

Sir is a formal English honorific address for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Traditionally, as governed by law and custom, Sir is used for men titled knights i.e. of orders of chivalry, and later also to baronets, and other offices. As the female equivalent for knighthood is damehood, the suo jure female equivalent term is typically Dame. The wife of a knight or baronet tends to be addressed Lady, although a few exceptions and interchanges of these uses exist.

This article is about the title and honorific. For other uses, see Sir (disambiguation).

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Ministerialis

Since the Late Modern era, "Sir" has been increasingly used also as a respectful way to address any commoners of a superior social status or military rank. Equivalent terms of address for women are Madam (shortened "Ma'am"), in addition to social honorifics such as Mr, Mrs, and Miss.

Etymology

Sir derives from the honorific title sire; sire developed alongside the word seigneur, also used to refer to a feudal lord. Both derived from the Vulgar Latin senior, sire comes from the nominative case declension senior and seigneur, the accusative case declension seniōrem.[1]

The form 'Sir' is first documented in English in 1297, as title of honour of a knight, and latterly a baronet, being a variant of sire, which was already used in English since at least c.1205 as a title placed before a name and denoting knighthood, and to address the (male) Sovereign since c.1225, with additional general senses of 'father, male parent' is from c.1250, and 'important elderly man' from 1362.

Entitlement to formal honorific address by region

Commonwealth of Nations
Sir Thomas Troubridge, 1st Baronet, whose entitlement to use 'Sir' derived from his position as baronet

The prefix is used with the holder's given name or full name, but never with the surname alone. For example, whilst Sir Alexander and Sir Alexander Fleming would be correct, Sir Fleming would not.[2]

The equivalent for a female who holds a knighthood or baronetcy in her own right is 'Dame', and follows the same usage customs as 'Sir'.[3] Although this form was previously also used for the wives of knights and baronets, it is now customary to refer to them as 'Lady', followed by their surname; they are never addressed using their full names. For example, while Lady Fiennes is correct, Lady Virginia and Lady Virginia Fiennes are not.[4][5] The widows of knights retain the style of wives of knights,[5] however widows of baronets are either referred to as 'dowager', or use their forename before their courtesy style. For example, the widow of Sir Thomas Herbert Cochrane Troubridge, 4th Baronet, would either be known as Dowager Lady Troubridge or Laura, Lady Troubridge.[6]

Emperor Taishō, a Stranger Knight of the Order of the Garter, who, as a foreign national, was not entitled to use the prefix 'Sir' (which as a sovereign monarch he would not have used in any case) but was permitted to post-nominally use KG

Today, in the UK and in certain Commonwealth realms, a number of men are entitled to the prefix of 'Sir', including knights bachelor, knights of the orders of chivalry and baronets; although foreign nationals can be awarded honorary knighthoods. Honorary knights do not bear the prefix "Sir" nor do they receive an accolade; instead they use the associated post-nominal letters.[7]

Church of England clergy who receive knighthoods do also not receive an accolade and therefore do not use the title 'Sir', but instead refer to their knighthood using post-nominal letters.[2] For example, the Reverend John Polkinghorne, KBE is never referred to as Sir John Polkinghorne. Clergy of other denominations may use different conventions.[2]

Dual nationals holding a Commonwealth citizenship that recognise the British monarch as head of state are entitled to use the styling. Common usage varies from country to country: for instance, dual Bahamian-American citizen Sidney Poitier, knighted in 1974, is often styled 'Sir Sidney Poitier', particularly in connection with his official ambassadorial duties, although he himself rarely employs the title.

The permissibility of using the style of 'Sir' varies. In general, only dynastic knighthoods in the personal gift of the Sovereign and Head of the Commonwealth – the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle and the knighthoods in the Royal Victorian Order – are recognised across the Commonwealth realms, along with their accompanying styles.

Knighthoods in the gift of the government of a Commonwealth realm typically only permit the bearer to use his title within that country or as its official representative, provided he is a national of that country; Commonwealth realms may consider knighthoods from other realms to only be foreign honours. For instance, Anthony Bailey was reprimanded by Buckingham Palace and the British government in 2016 for asserting that an honorary Antiguan knighthood allowed him the style of 'Sir' in the UK.[8][9]

Commonwealth realms

United Kingdom

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia
  • Knight of the Order of Australia (AK; for male Australian subjects only; discontinued 1986–2014, reintroduced briefly in 2014, again discontinued in 2015)[12][13]

Barbados

Grenada
  • Knight Commander, Knight Grand Cross, or Knight Grand Collar of the Order of the Nation in the Order of Grenada (KCNG/GCNG/KN)

New Zealand

Saint Lucia

Holy See

Knights and Dames of papal orders may elect the "Sir" or "Dame" prefix with post-nominal letters, subject to the laws and conventions of the country they are in. The Pope, the sovereign of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, delegates the awarding orders of knighthood to bishops and Grand Masters. Their precedence is as follows:

For Example, Sir Burton P. C. Hall, KSS, KHS would be the correct style for lay knights.

Lieutenants of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, are styled as "Your Excellency", such as H.E. Dame Trudy Comeau, DC*HS.

Catholic clergy who are invested as Knight Chaplains may use post-nominal letters, but must retain their clerical titles, like Rev. Robert Skeris, KCHS.

Knights and Dames of papal orders are not allowed to use the prefix "Sir" or "Dame" in the United Kingdom, although they may use post-nominal letters. Not allowing the prefix is because the use of foreign titles is not permitted by the British Crown without a Royal Licence, and as a matter of policy (currently based on a Royal Warrant of 27 April 1932), a Royal Licence to bear any foreign title is never granted. On the other hand, allowing the post-nominal letters would be explained by the highest and lowest dignities being universal, a king was recognized as king everywhere, and also a knight: "though a Knight receive his Dignity of a Foreign Prince, he is so to be stiled in all Legal Proceedings within England .. and Knights in all Foreign Countries have ever place and precedency according to their Seniority of being Knighted" [15]

Ireland

Established in 1783 and primarily awarded to men associated with the Kingdom of Ireland, Knights of the Order of St. Patrick were entitled to the style of 'Sir'. Regular creation of new knights of the order ended in 1921 upon the formation of the Irish Free State. With the death of the last knight in 1974, the Order became dormant.

India
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma was the last surviving Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India

As part of the consolidation of the crown colony of India, the Order of the Star of India was established in 1861 to reward prominent British and Indian civil servants, military officers and prominent Indians associated with the Indian Empire. The Order of the Indian Empire was established in 1878 as a junior-level order to accompany the Order of the Star of India, and to recognise long service.

From 1861 to 1866, the Order of the Star of India had a single class of Knights (KSI), who were entitled to the style of 'Sir'. In 1866, the order was reclassified into three divisions: Knights Grand Commander (GCSI), Knights Commander (KCSI) and Companions (CSI); holders of the upper two degrees could use the title 'Sir'. From its creation in 1878 until 1887, the Order of the Indian Empire had a single class, Companion (CIE), which did not entitle the recipient to a style of knighthood.

In 1887, two higher divisions, Knight Grand Commander (GCIE) and Knight Commander (KCIE) were created, which entitled holders of those ranks to the style of 'Sir'. The last creations of knights of either order were made on 15 August 1947 upon Indian independence. All British honours and their accompanying styles were officially made obsolete in India when the Dominion of India became a modern Commonwealth republic in 1950, followed by Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1956.

The Order of the Star of India became dormant in the Commonwealth realms from February 2009, and the Order of the Indian Empire after August 2010, when the last knights of the orders died.

Nigeria

In Nigeria, holders of religious honours like the Knighthood of St. Gregory make use of the word as a pre-nominal honorific in much the same way as it is used for secular purposes in Britain and the Philippines. Wives of such individuals also typically assume the title of Lady.

Philippines

As a privilege of the members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, the prefix "Sir" is attached to their forenames while wives of Knights add the prefix "Lady" to their first names.[16] These apply to both spoken and written forms of address. The Knights of Rizal is the sole order of knighthood in the Philippines and a constituted[17] Order of Merit recognized by the Orders, decorations, and medals of the Philippines.[18] The prefix is appended with the relevant post-nominal according to their rank at the end of their names: Knight of Rizal (KR), Knight Officer of Rizal (KOR), Knight Commander of Rizal (KCR), Knight Grand Officer of Rizal (KGOR) and Knight Grand Cross of Rizal (KGCR). Among the notable members of the Knights of Rizal include King Juan Carlos I of Spain who was conferred a Knight Grand Cross of Rizal on 11 February 1998.[19]

Combinations with other titles and styles
Military

In the case of a military officer who is also a knight, the appropriate form of address puts the professional military rank first, then the correct manner of address for the individual, then his name. Examples include:

Academic

This is also the case with academic ranks and titles, such as 'Professor'. For example, Patrick Bateson was both a professor[note 2] and a knight bachelor; his correct title would be Professor Sir Patrick Bateson. However, the title of 'Doctor' (Dr.) is not used in combination with 'Sir', with the knighthood taking precedence. Knighted doctors are addressed as knights, though they may still use any post-nominal letters associated with their degrees.

Peers

Peers who have been knighted are not addressed as 'Sir' in the formal sense of the style, as their titles of nobility take precedence. If the heir apparent to a dukedom, marquessate or earldom holds a courtesy title and has been knighted, the same principle applies to him, as well as to the male heirs of a duke or a marquess, who are styled 'Lord' followed by their first name. For instance, diplomat Lord Nicholas Gordon-Lennox, KCMG, KCVO, who was a younger son of the Duke of Richmond, continued to be styled as 'Lord Nicholas' following his knighthood in 1986, not 'Lord Sir Nicholas'. Other male heirs of an earl who lack courtesy titles, and the male heirs of a viscount or baron, do however use the style of 'Sir' if knighted, the style following that of 'The Hon'.

Educational, military and other usage

Education system

'Sir', along with 'Miss' for females, is commonly used in the British school system to address teachers; and or members of faculty as well as staff. Usage of these terms is considered a mark of respect, and can be dated back to the 16th century. The practice may have been an attempt to reinforce the authority of teachers from lower social classes among classes of largely upper class students.[22] Jennifer Coates, emeritus professor of English language and linguistics at Roehampton University has criticised the use of the title for male teachers, saying that "Sir is a knight. There weren't women knights, but 'Miss' is ridiculous: it doesn't match 'Sir' at all. It's just one of the names you can call an unmarried woman", and that "It's a depressing example of how women are given low status and men, no matter how young or new in the job they are, are given high status".[22] This view is not unchallenged however. The chief executive of the Brook Learning Trust, Debbie Coslett, said "... they call me 'Miss', I'm fine with that. They're showing respect by giving me a title rather than 'hey' or 'oi, you' or whatever", and dismissed the male/female issue as "That's just the way the English language works".[22]

In the Southern United States, the term 'sir' is often used to address someone in a position of authority or respect, and is commonly used in schools and universities by students to address their teachers and professors. Whereas the British and Commonwealth female equivalent is Miss, students will often refer to female teachers as Ma'am.[23]

In the Northeast United States, particularly New England, there remains influence of both the British and French traditions as noted above; in general parlance, teachers, authority-figures, and so forth, are referred to by a title of respect such as 'Sir' for males and 'Miss, Ms, or Mrs' for females: 'Miss' for unmarried, younger females; 'Ms' for senior, elder, or ranking females that may or may not be married (see article Ms/Mrs/Miss); and 'Mrs' for married or widowed females. The predominant form of address remains "Sir/Ma'am", though in some sectors - such as service, hospitality, or politics - "Sir/Madam(e)" prevails, while in Northern Maine - Aroostock County and St John's Valley - most female teachers or public officials, regardless of marital status, are addressed "Miss" in English or "Madame" in French, though the two are not interchangeable. As noted in Coslett's statement above citing her personal acceptance of 'Miss', generally teachers or other public officials may specify to which form they prefer, while in other cases social and cultural norms dictate the appropriate form.

Military and police

If not specifically using their rank or title, 'sir' is used in the United States Armed Forces to address a male, senior commissioned officer or civilian. Privates and non-commissioned officers, such as corporals and sergeants, are addressed using their ranks.[24]

In the British Armed Forces, male commissioned officers and warrant officers are addressed as 'sir' by all ranks junior to them, male warrant officers are addressed as Mr by commissioned officers.[25]

In the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), only commissioned officers are addressed as 'sir'; NCOs and constables are addressed by their rank. Male British police officers of the rank of Inspector or above are addressed as 'Sir' (women of inspecting rank are called Ma'am).

In the Hong Kong Police Force, male superiors are respectfully known by their surname followed by 'sir'. For example, Inspector Wong would be addressed or referred to as 'Wong-sir'. Male police officers are sometimes known colloquially as "Ah-sir" (阿Sir) to the wider public.[26]

Service industry

The term 'Sir' is also used frequently in the customer service industry, by employees to refer to customers, and sometimes vice versa. In the United States, it is much more common in certain areas (even when addressing male peers or men considerably younger). For example, a 1980 study showed that 80% of service interactions in the South were accompanied by 'Sir' or Ma'am, in comparison to the Northern United States, where 'Sir' was only used 25% of the time.[23]

'Sir', in conjunction with 'Ma'am' or 'Madam', is also commonly used in the Philippines and South Asia, not only to address customers and vice versa, but also to address people of a higher social rank or age.[27][28] [29][30]

See also

Notes
  1. In the personal gift of the Sovereign and Head of the Commonwealth.
  2. Note a difference in usage between British and US usage. A Professor in the UK is only used for the highest academic rank. See a summary here.

References
  1. Ayres-Bennet, Wendy (1996). "The 'heyday' of Old French (French in the 12th and 13th centuries)". A History of the French Language Through Texts. London: Routledge. ISBN 0415099994.
  2. "Knight". Debretts. n.d. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. "Baronetess". Debretts. n.d. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. "Family of a Baronet". Debretts. n.d. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  5. "Wife of a Knight". Debretts. n.d. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  6. "Wife of a Baronet". Debretts. n.d. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  7. "Honorary Knighthood". Debretts. n.d. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  8. London Gazette, 1 June 2016, accessed 16 August 2016
  9. "Something of the Knight...", Private Eye, no, 1420, 10 June 2016
  10. Royal Household. "The Queen and the UK > Queen and Honours > Royal Victorian Order". Queen's Printer. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  11. "Baronet". Debretts. n.d. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  12. "Knight /Dame of the Order of Australia". Australian Government. n.d. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  13. "Australia PM Malcolm Turnbull drops knights and dames from honours system". BBC. 1 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  14. "New Zealand State Honours - The New Zealand Order of Merit". New Zealand Defence Force. n.d. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  15. Velde, Francois. "Foreign Titles in the UK". Heraldica.org. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  16. "Who is entitled to the prefix of 'Sir'?". R.A.U. Juchter van Bergen Quast, LLM (in Dutch). 25 October 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  17. "Republic Act No. 646 | GOVPH". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  18. "Speech of President Aquino at the International Assembly and Conference of Rizal, February 17, 2011 | GOVPH". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  19. "Entitlement to the prefix of 'sir'". Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  20. Royal Navy Flag Officers, 1904-1945: Admiral of the Fleet Sir Bruce Fraser, admirals.org.uk
  21. Australian Dictionary of Biography: Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey, adb.online.anu.edu.au
  22. Paton, Graeme (13 May 2014). "Stop calling teachers 'Miss' or 'Sir', pupils are told". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  23. Hudley, Anne; Mallinson, Christine (2011). "A Regional and Cultural Variety". Understanding English Language Variation in U.S. Schools. NY, USA: Teachers College Press. ISBN 9780807751480.
  24. Rush, Robert S. NCO Guide (9th ed.). PA, USA: Stackpole Book. p. 328. ISBN 9780811736145.
  25. "Frequently Asked Questions". RAF. n.d. Archived from the original on 2 May 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  26. Guldin, Gregory Eliyu (1992). Urbanizing China. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 171.
  27. Holtzapple, Katarina (3 March 2019). "A Conversation about "Ma'am/Sir"". The Gazelle. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  28. Orante, Bea (14 August 2015). "Netizens react: Is it time to let go of 'Ma'am, Sir'?". Rappler.
  29. Estrada-Claudio, Sylvia. "Don't call me Madam". Rappler. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  30. Martin, Bob. "Philippine Society can be very formal". Live In The Philippines. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
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