] In a sort of inverse snobbery, there were landed families of substantial and long standing wealth who considered it beneath the dignity of the family name to take a knighthood, or even a title, even if it were on offer.

Yes, indeed. And it's just one more trap for the unwary in trying to understand the complexities of the English class system. The Darcys would consider that anyone who didn't know that they were superior without the aid of a label didn't have an opinion worth considering.