There appear to be roughly one thousand or so families holding any lordly rank in the Seven Kingdoms. These titles do not elevate a lord above others-the Prince of Dorne has no more authority than other great lords-but demonstrate a house's history.
Some lords have titles which belong only to their houses: House Greyjoy, for example, has the title of " Lord Reaper of Pyke", House Lannister has "Shield of Lannisport", House Royce of the Gates of the Moon has the title of Keeper of the Gates of the Moon made hereditary for them, and House Manderly has several titles, many of which relate to their past life in the Reach and make no sense in the North, but are preserved as tradition. It is the Lord's responsibility to govern his lands, keep the king's peace, enforce law and justice on local matters, and ensure that taxes due to the king are collected in a timely manner. Petty lords at the bottom have a few villages. The lords of the great houses have the highest ranks in their regions of the seven kingdoms, and are vassals only to the king. Each lord has vassals sometimes vassals have vassals. Nobility is hereditary, expressed through vassalage which connect between them the various owners of strongholds. In Westeros's system of nobility, above knights and below the king there are only lords, some greater and some lesser, some sworn to others, but all with the same title the exception is the Lord of Sunspear, who still holds the title " Prince of Dorne". Of course, as kings do not retire, this loss of position would involve his death. Although in practice the king is constrained by political realities, and while no individual command is likely to be countermanded, he could still lose his position to intrigue if he were to offend the wrong people. The king sits on the Iron Throne, claims ownership of the land, has the final political authority and holds the ultimate power in all matters.
The King on the Iron Throne, the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, has the highest feudal rank beneath him are the various lords and knights, with peasants, also known as smallfolk, at the bottom. This is not to say that it is impossible, only that it is very difficult, usually bestowed by lords to those who have done a great service to them, or knights bestow the rank and title of Knighthood on any individual who has proven himself worthy. There are no provisions for the advancement of individuals from a lower class into the higher classes. Most lowborn can, however, expect to die as commoners. Despite House Seaworth's creation most highborn scorn Ser Davos, and being lowborn embarrasses his sons, but if Stannis Baratheon wins the War of the Five Kings they may become knights, and Davos's grandchildren will be highborn. Smallfolk who become members of nobility are still lowborn, such as Janos Slynt's family despite his receiving Harrenhal and small council membership. Those who are not highborn are lowborn or smallfolk. Highborn bastards have special surnames, highborn lords rarely ride with hedge knights (and highborn women are unlikely to marry them), and highborn prisoners of war are held for ransom when others are killed. People expect highborn to differ from others in behavior, dress, speech, given names, and even their flowering and maidenheads.
Highborn status is desirable bastard Jon Snow dreams that his unknown mother is "beautiful, and highborn". One cannot gain or lose the status the impoverished, exiled, and powerless Daenerys Targaryen is still highborn, as is Alliser Thorne despite joining the Night's Watch to avoid execution, while former smuggler Davos Seaworth of Flea Bottom says that highborn do not consider him one of them despite his knighthood, land, keep, and banner. Arya Stark and Tyrion Lannister are examples of highborn, born into prestigious families. The feudal system has a rigid structure of social classes.
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