How does an earldom become extinct?

[nq:1]The answer was Benjamin Stratford, 6th earl of Aldborough. My question is "how does an earldom become extinct?" I thought that if there were no children then it passed to the brother, or nephew or niece, or somebody. Does it mean they did something bad?[/nq]
An earldom can generally only pass down the male line.

If a dead earl has no sons, it passes down the line of his brothers

[nq:2]My question is "how does an earldom become extinct?" I ... niece, or somebody. Does it mean they did something bad?[/nq]
[nq:1]An earldom can generally only pass down the male line.[/nq]
A few Scottish earldoms can pass through the female line, and I have a vague recollection that one or two of them can even pass to a woman.
[nq:1]If a dead earl has no sons, it passes down the li

[nq:2]The answer was Benjamin Stratford, 6th earl of Aldborough. My ... niece, or somebody. Does it mean they did something bad?[/nq]
[nq:1]An earldom can generally only pass down the male line. If a dead earl has no sons, it passes down ... generations until a male heir through the male line is found. If none can be found, the earldom becomes extinct.[/nq]
Indeed. Though 'extinct' in a ve

[nq:2]My question is "how does an earldom become extinct?" I ... niece, or somebody. Does it mean they did something bad?[/nq]
[nq:1]An earldom can generally only pass down the male line. If a dead earl has no sons, it passes down ... generations until a male heir through the male line is found. If none can be found, the earldom becomes extinct.[/nq]
Or, in some cases, dormant. (That's whe

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Ahh, I was wondering about that.
Back to the extinction. Didn't an earl used to do something useful serving as administrator for a chunk of land? Or was it always a ceremonial title. So when the earldom became extinct, didn't the chunk of land still need an administrator? Was the earldom in effect continued, perhaps with a name change?
Also, it does seem strange

[nq:1]Also, it does seem strange that the only noble positions that are inheritable by females are the ones at the tops queens and kings.[/nq]
I don't think many of us are yet ready for a female King. Our current Sovereign-&-Queen fills that role quite effectively, IMHO.

John W Hall (Email Removed)
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.
"Helping People Prosper in the Information Age"

[nq:1]Back to the extinction. Didn't an earl used to do something useful serving as administrator for a chunk of ... didn't the chunk of land still need an administrator? Was the earldom in effect continued, perhaps with a name change?[/nq]
In the Old Days, the titles represented rank in a feudal system. If, in those days, a title became extinct, the land reverted to the Crown, who would then

[nq:1]Also, it does seem strange that the only noble positions that are inheritable by females are the ones at the tops queens and kings. Or are there others?[/nq]
The Countess of Mar is married to somebody who used to teach me English and music. He's mentioned on this Delia site http://tinyurl.com/oyqb because of the goats t

[nq:1]If a dead earl has no sons, it passes down the line of his brothers and their sons.[/nq]
It would be a little late to be thinking of begatting.

[nq:1] I can't remember who got the last hereditary title.[/nq]
Harold Macmillan?
Matti