England has what Thomas Hobbes would define a "Republican Constitution," a vaguely defined term meaning that there are constraints placed both on the monarch and nobility, the people in power. The representation of the Bourgeoisie in the House of Commons was one of the more important factors in making English legislation preserve rights and equality as well as being favorable to economic development and industrialization. The equitable legislative climate in England meant that the Nobility was never targeted as a whole class, even during significant internal conflicts like the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution.

Relations between the French Government and the Nobility was much different; the French crown both depended on the Nobility's wealth and power to rule, while simultaneously attempting to undermine them in favor centralization. The final result was monarchial absolutism coexisting with a series of rights and privileges bestowed upon the nobility, Both were significant targets during the French Revolution. Although the Restoration would reinstate titles of nobility without their old privileges, no new titles have been granted in France since the fall of the Second Empire in 1870. However, to this day French noble titles are part of the holders legal name, and members of the nobility are present in all parts of French society, albeit in a much reduced role. Many own landed estates (like Casimir de Blacas d'Aulps), shares in business (like serial investor Alexandre de Lesseps), and many participate in politics. Prominent modern members of the nobility in France include the war hero maréchal Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, the French President in the 1970s Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, and even the French identity made incarnate, Charles de Gaulle, was from a (minor) noble family.

Italy also has a noble class. Following the abolition of the monarchy in 1946, the 1948 constitution abolished all noble titles. However members of the former nobility incorporated parts of their titles in their legal names, and inheritance of titles is recorded by a private association. Like in France, members of the Italian nobility continue to play an important role in business (like Luca Cordero di Montezemolo), Politics (like the present Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni), and own significant properties (like the Borromeo family). A testament to the perception of the nobility in Italy is the Fantozzi comedy film series, where the lowly employee of a "MegaCorp" (officially called ItalPetrolCemeTermoTessilFarmoMetalChimica) is, among other misadventures, the victim of his company's out-of-touch management, who all have increasingly absurd noble titles (like the Galactic Mega-Director Duke Count Blablam, Galactic Mega-President Arcangelo, Director Count Corrado Maria Lobbiam, Resounding Mega-Director Duke Count Engineer Pier Carlo Semenzara, Hon. Director Sir Count Diego Catellani, and and many others).

The German nobility's special privileges were abolished by the Weimar Republic, however they continue to use their noble titles in their legal names and, like in France and Italy, constitute a relatively closed social class with ties to business (like entrepreneur August François von Finck) and Politics (like the present Minister of the Interior, Thomas de Maizière and the Minister of Defense, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg).

Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are all constitutional Monarchies, and consequentially also have a nobility much the same way England does.

All told, the familiarity with the English nobility in the United States is a consequence of the countries' shared language and history. However, Italy is the most unequal of the G-10 economies, and I would argue has the strongest nobility.