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In the Regency era (c. 1811–1820), “the Ton” referred to the exclusive London elite. The term is derived from the French le bon ton (good manners). This group consisted of approximately 300 to 400 influential noble families who defined the social norms, fashion, and strict etiquette of their time.
The main characteristics of this social class were:
- Composition: Consisted of the royal family, the hereditary aristocracy, and the wealthy landed gentry.
- Social control: They functioned as an invisible social club that determined who was accepted into high society and whom one was permitted to marry.
- Influence today: The term became widely known to the general public primarily through the television series Bridgerton.