Nobility is not linked to the ownership of land.
Historically in some countries, titles were attached to a fief (in France, a fief de dignité, which might have been formally ‘erected’ into a barony, county, marquisate or duchy, for example). In all such cases, however, a royal license followed by homage and reinvestiture was necessary in the case of a sale, before the new owner could acquire the title. These titles ceased to be attached to the land with the abolition of feudalism.
