Earldom (noun)

The rank or dignity of an earl; the territory ruled by an earl.

Origin:

Middle english: from old english eorl-dōm, from eorl "earl" + dōm "dominion, jurisdiction".

Examples:

1. He was granted an earldom for his services to the crown, and became the Earl of Oxford.
2. The earldom was one of the oldest and most powerful in the kingdom, with a rich history and extensive lands.
3. She was born into an earldom, and had grown up surrounded by privilege and wealth.
4. The earldom was a hereditary title, passed down from father to son for generations.
5. The earldom was abolished after the English Civil War, and its lands and titles were divided among the king's supporters.