Conway Mill Trust

Only a few of the chieftains of old families are allowed to use the prefix, “The” before their family name.  A chief is addressed by his surname, (O’Brien, O’Donnell, etc.).  This is not considered as being too familiar but if one writes to a chief, then it is proper to use the term “The” with the surname.  His wife is called “Madam.”  The titled is bestowed on the oldest family member of the last formally inaugurated chief of the clan and this is designated by the Genealogy Office of Ireland.