Mr., Mrs. Miss prefixes

Question

This has been discussed in the past, where the consensus was that some prefixes are more meaningful than others.  One of my pet peeves is the use of Mr., Mrs., and Miss, which add nothing of value to a profile.  My 14-year-old cousin was male, so yes, he was a Mr., but I doubt that anyone even in real life called him that when he died in 1902; yet another member added Mr. as a prefix to his profile.  Why are these particular useless prefixes available as choices, she asked rhetorically knowing that her question will be deemed too negative by some?

Comments

I don't understand why anyone would randomly come along and add this to a profile?  I find that very bizarre.

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Thanks, Emma.  That makes me feel better.

Answer 1

During some long-ago era, terms like Mr. and Mrs. were indications of some sort of above-average social standing. See https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/159803/should-mr-mrs-or-miss-be-used-as-a-prefix-on-a-profile for an informed discussion of the topic.

Comments

To add to  the linked discussion, the term Mrs was used for both married women and spinsters of the upper classes..So a  death notice in the Gentleman's magazine,(1781) reads  'Hon Mrs A Pitt, privy purse to the late Pr. dowa' of Wales' (she was a 69 year old spinster)... but she doesn't have that  'title' on her profile.

Answer 2

I share your peeve.  If anyone used a title on your cousin, it was probably Master, as young lads were called back then. A subversive sort of member might change his profile accordingly.  ;)

Comments

"Subversive sort of member" LOL!

I don't use those common titles, by the way.

Answer 3

I'm pretty sure one of my relatives, who called himself "Dr" wasn't medically qualified, but got away with this deceit all of his life, as you could when you were a colonial in the 1800s. He exaggerated everything about himself. Not sure if I should put "Dr" on his profile in inverted commas or not, in case I invoke the rage of a descendant.Gowland-130 | Jack Gowlland

Comments

Sounds like the nickname field would be good for this case.  If you chose to put it there, it might throw up a false error because it normally goes in prefix, but it can easily be set as a false error.  

I just read his biography. Wow!  He did have a colorful life!

Answer 4

it sure can complicate a search request