Talk:Jonkheer

[Untitled]
The word 'joncker' and 'jonkheer' are the synonyms in Dutch. Calling a jonkheer joncker (old Dutch spelling probably) is not corrupting the word jonkheer, just using a synonym.Loek Bergman (talk) 10:31, 30 June 2009 (UTC)

"heer" does not mean "heir"
"Heer" means "lord" (or "gentleman"). It comes from a germanic word meaning "to rule". "Heir" comes from a latin word meaning "descendent". Completely different. I am therefore editing the article accordingly. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, please present it. Thank you. Phoogenb (talk) 03:23, 13 September 2011 (UTC)

Belgian title or style?
In the Netherlands Jonkheer is a style (manner of address), and definitely not a title of nobility. In France ecuyer is also a style and was never a title of nobility. Both of these words are used as honorifics for members of the legal nobility who lack a title of their own (even if the head of the family is titled, i.e., a knight/ridder, baron, viscount, count, marquis, duke or prince). It is alleged in the article, however, that in Belgium Jonkheer is not merely an honorific for the untitled, but is legally the lowest hereditary title in the hierarchy of the Belgian nobility. A reliable source is needed to clarify and confirm what is accurate. FactStraight (talk) 19:37, 8 July 2013 (UTC)

In Belgian, it is a title, this is confirmed by a decision of the highest belgian court of 1927. In deutsh arrest van het Hof van Cassatie, 1927 https://diplomatie.belgium.be/nl/Diensten/Protocol/adel/faq — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.243.214.23 (talk) 07:59, 5 July 2018 (UTC)

As used by titled and untitled families in the Netherlands and Belgium
The article states "However, in the Low Countries (and other parts of continental Europe), only the head of most noble families carries a title, inheritance being by male lineage. That resulted therefore that most of the nobility is untitled in the Netherlands. 'Jonkheer', or its female equivalent 'jonkvrouw' developed therefore quite early into a different but general meaning: 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)." However in most (although by no means all) Dutch noble families that are titled, the title devolves on all members in the male line, male or female. For the noble families that only have titles for the firstborn male, the style "Jonkheer" is indeed used for the other members. Most persons with the style "Jonkheer" however, stem from noble families that have no actual titles at all. I think the language should be changed to express that. Gerard von Hebel (talk) 14:07, 7 August 2016 (UTC)