Jonkheer
Encyclopedia
Jonkheer is a Dutch
honorific
of nobility.
" or "young lady
". In medieval times such a person was a young and unmarried son or daughter of a high ranking knight or nobleman. Many noble families could not support all their sons to become a knight because of the expensive equipment. So the eldest son of a knight was a young lord and his brothers remain as esquires.
However, in the low countries (and other parts of continental Europe) only the head of most noble families did and does carry a title and inheritability of it is via the male lineage. This resulted therefore that most of the nobility was and is nowadays untitled in the Netherlands
and Belgium
. Jonkheer, or its female equivalent jonkvrouw developed therefore quite early into a different but general meaning, i.e., an honorific to show that someone does belong to the nobility, but does not possess a title. The abbreviation jhr., or jkvr. for women, is placed in front of the name (preceding academic, but not state titles).
The honorific could be compared more or less with "Edler
" in Austria or "Junker
" in Germany - though due to circumstances of German and especially Prussia
n history, "Junker" assumed connotations of militarism
absent from the Dutch equivalent. Comparing it with the English nobility, it entirely depends on the ranking of the person. It could be roughly translated into English as:
Sons or daughters of most (non-royal, noble) princes, dukes and marquesses in the low countries carry noble titles other than the honorific Jonkheer or Jonkvrouw.
The spouse of a jonkheer is not named Jonkvrouw but "Mevrouw". Translated into English this means Madam
, abbreviated as "Mrs." (with the use of her husband's name). However, if she is a jonkvrouw in her own right, she can be styled as such (together with her maiden name), unless she chooses to use the name of her husband.
Often however these titles are not acceded by the modern monarchy, either because the family is registered as untitled nobility and may thus only use the honorific or predicate, or because the family has never requested to be registered but possesses a grant of nobility which predates the founding of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
in 1815; the latter are often Habsburg
in origin. These families use this title by means of courtesy
and are often styled Edler X or Junker X instead of Jonkheer. Some do not use the abbreviation, but instead use the form "Name edler/junker X". Others use the abbreviation Jhr. (Jkvr. for Junkfrau), placed in front of the name.
of rank for untitled nobility in the Netherlands and Belgium is the same as that of a Ridder
, i.e. a hereditary knight
: a plain circlet of gold with eight pearls, five of which are seen in a representation, all on golden points. Furthermore, the heraldic coronet the golden circlet is surrounded with a pearl collar.
Acceded titles use the same coronet
of rank as hereditary knights, described above. Non-acceded titles can not officially use a coronet of rank and thus use the coronet that they have been historically awarded, if any at all.
-speaking people is as the root of the name of the city of Yonkers, New York
. The word was likely a nickname, as opposed to an honorific, associated with Adriaen van der Donck
; a young Dutch landowner in the New Netherlands. While his business ventures largely proved less than successful, the city of Yonkers takes its name from his legacy.
The word, in reference to Van der Donck, is variously spelled among modern scholars. In Thomas F. O’Donnell’s introduction to a translation of van der Donck’s A Description of the New Netherland, it is suggested that van der Donck was known as “The Joncker”. Russell Shorto
’s The Island at the Center of the World has “jonker”, while Edward Hagaman Hall’s book on Philipse Manor Hall
uses “youncker”. “Jonker” (old Dutch spelling joncker) is another form of the word “jonkheer”.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
honorific
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
of nobility.
Honorific of nobility
"Jonkheer" or "Jonkvrouw" is literally translated as "young lordLord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
" or "young lady
Lady
The word lady is a polite term for a woman, specifically the female equivalent to, or spouse of, a lord or gentleman, and in many contexts a term for any adult woman...
". In medieval times such a person was a young and unmarried son or daughter of a high ranking knight or nobleman. Many noble families could not support all their sons to become a knight because of the expensive equipment. So the eldest son of a knight was a young lord and his brothers remain as esquires.
However, in the low countries (and other parts of continental Europe) only the head of most noble families did and does carry a title and inheritability of it is via the male lineage. This resulted therefore that most of the nobility was and is nowadays untitled in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Jonkheer, or its female equivalent jonkvrouw developed therefore quite early into a different but general meaning, i.e., an honorific to show that someone does belong to the nobility, but does not possess a title. The abbreviation jhr., or jkvr. for women, is placed in front of the name (preceding academic, but not state titles).
The honorific could be compared more or less with "Edler
Edler
Edler was until 1919 the lowest title of nobility in Austria-Hungary and Germany, just beneath a Ritter, but above nobles without title who used only the preposition von before their surname. It was mostly given to civil servants and military officers, as well as those upon whom the second rank of...
" in Austria or "Junker
Junker
A Junker was a member of the landed nobility of Prussia and eastern Germany. These families were mostly part of the German Uradel and carried on the colonization and Christianization of the northeastern European territories during the medieval Ostsiedlung. The abbreviation of Junker is Jkr...
" in Germany - though due to circumstances of German and especially Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n history, "Junker" assumed connotations of militarism
Militarism
Militarism is defined as: the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests....
absent from the Dutch equivalent. Comparing it with the English nobility, it entirely depends on the ranking of the person. It could be roughly translated into English as:
- "SirSirSir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
" or "DameKnightA knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
", when the person is member of the new and untitled Dutch nobility (primary after 1815, lowest ranking, and most of nobility nowadays); - "The HonourableThe HonourableThe prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
", when the untitled person is a son or daughter of a hereditary knight, baron, viscount or count; - "LordLordLord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
" or "LadyLadyThe word lady is a polite term for a woman, specifically the female equivalent to, or spouse of, a lord or gentleman, and in many contexts a term for any adult woman...
", when the untitled person is member of the old (Dutch) nobility (untitled but high ranking, from preceding 1815, "Heer van X" or Lord of X);
Sons or daughters of most (non-royal, noble) princes, dukes and marquesses in the low countries carry noble titles other than the honorific Jonkheer or Jonkvrouw.
The spouse of a jonkheer is not named Jonkvrouw but "Mevrouw". Translated into English this means Madam
Madam
Madam, or madame, is a polite title used for women which, in English, is the equivalent of Mrs. or Ms., and is often found abbreviated as "ma'am", and less frequently as "ma'm". It is derived from the French madame, which means "my lady", the feminine form of lord; the plural of ma dame in this...
, abbreviated as "Mrs." (with the use of her husband's name). However, if she is a jonkvrouw in her own right, she can be styled as such (together with her maiden name), unless she chooses to use the name of her husband.
Title of nobility
Jonkheer is an official Dutch/Native Indian predicate (not a title), as stated above, and is used as such, most notably the Royal Family with the title Jonkheer van Amsberg.Often however these titles are not acceded by the modern monarchy, either because the family is registered as untitled nobility and may thus only use the honorific or predicate, or because the family has never requested to be registered but possesses a grant of nobility which predates the founding of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
in 1815; the latter are often Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
in origin. These families use this title by means of courtesy
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
and are often styled Edler X or Junker X instead of Jonkheer. Some do not use the abbreviation, but instead use the form "Name edler/junker X". Others use the abbreviation Jhr. (Jkvr. for Junkfrau), placed in front of the name.
Coronet
The coronetCoronet
A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. Unlike a crown, a coronet never has arches.The word stems from the Old French coronete, a diminutive of coronne , itself from the Latin corona .Traditionally, such headgear is – as indicated by the German equivalent...
of rank for untitled nobility in the Netherlands and Belgium is the same as that of a Ridder
Ridder (title)
Ridder is a noble title in the Netherlands and Belgium. The collective term for its holders in a certain locality is the Ridderschap . In the Netherlands and Belgium no female equivalent exists...
, i.e. a hereditary knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
: a plain circlet of gold with eight pearls, five of which are seen in a representation, all on golden points. Furthermore, the heraldic coronet the golden circlet is surrounded with a pearl collar.
Acceded titles use the same coronet
Coronet
A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. Unlike a crown, a coronet never has arches.The word stems from the Old French coronete, a diminutive of coronne , itself from the Latin corona .Traditionally, such headgear is – as indicated by the German equivalent...
of rank as hereditary knights, described above. Non-acceded titles can not officially use a coronet of rank and thus use the coronet that they have been historically awarded, if any at all.
Nickname
Jonkheer's most well-known use among EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
-speaking people is as the root of the name of the city of Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
. The word was likely a nickname, as opposed to an honorific, associated with Adriaen van der Donck
Adriaen van der Donck
Adriaen Cornelissen van der Donck was a lawyer and landowner in New Netherland after whose honorific Jonkheer the city of Yonkers, New York is named...
; a young Dutch landowner in the New Netherlands. While his business ventures largely proved less than successful, the city of Yonkers takes its name from his legacy.
The word, in reference to Van der Donck, is variously spelled among modern scholars. In Thomas F. O’Donnell’s introduction to a translation of van der Donck’s A Description of the New Netherland, it is suggested that van der Donck was known as “The Joncker”. Russell Shorto
Russell Shorto
Russell Shorto is an American author, historian and journalist, best known for his book on the Dutch origins of New York City, The Island at the Center of the World...
’s The Island at the Center of the World has “jonker”, while Edward Hagaman Hall’s book on Philipse Manor Hall
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site is a historic house museum located in Yonkers, New York. It is Westchester County’s oldest standing building, and is currently owned and operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.It is located at Warburton Avenue...
uses “youncker”. “Jonker” (old Dutch spelling joncker) is another form of the word “jonkheer”.
See also
- JunkerJunkerA Junker was a member of the landed nobility of Prussia and eastern Germany. These families were mostly part of the German Uradel and carried on the colonization and Christianization of the northeastern European territories during the medieval Ostsiedlung. The abbreviation of Junker is Jkr...
- EdlerEdlerEdler was until 1919 the lowest title of nobility in Austria-Hungary and Germany, just beneath a Ritter, but above nobles without title who used only the preposition von before their surname. It was mostly given to civil servants and military officers, as well as those upon whom the second rank of...
- NobilityNobilityNobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
- PatricianshipPatricianshipPatricianship, the quality of belonging to a patriciate, began in the ancient world, where cities such as Ancient Rome had a class of patrician families whose members were the only people allowed to exercise many political functions...
- New Netherlands
- Ridder (title)Ridder (title)Ridder is a noble title in the Netherlands and Belgium. The collective term for its holders in a certain locality is the Ridderschap . In the Netherlands and Belgium no female equivalent exists...