The Scottish Barony Register is a non-statutory
register
Register or registration may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Music
* Register (music), the relative "height" or range of a note, melody, part, instrument, etc.
* ''Register'', a 2017 album by Travis Miller
* Registration (organ), ...
established and maintained by legal professionals in Scotland. It was incorporated as a
private company limited by guarantee
A company limited by guarantee (CLG) is a type of company where the liability of members in the event the company is wound up is limited to a (typically very small) amount listed in the company's articles or constitution. Most have no share cap ...
, registered under the number SC276349. Since November 2021, the Custodian has been Alastair Shepherd, a retired solicitor and a
Writer to His Majesty's Signet, who succeeded Alistair Rennie in the post.
History
Barons were also expected or required to attend sessions of Parliament when summoned.
Purpose
The Scottish Barony Register serves as a source of information regarding the ownership of dignities in the
Baronage of Scotland
In Scotland, "baron" or "baroness" is a rank of the ancient nobility of the Baronage of Scotland, a hereditary Imperial, royal and noble ranks, title of honour, and refers to the holder of a barony, erected into a free barony by Crown Charter, ...
. It addresses a previous gap in available knowledge by providing a record of ownership rights for titles such as baronies,
lordships, and
earldoms
Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. In modern Britain, an earl is a member of the peerage, ranking below a marquess and above a viscount. A feminine form of ''earl'' never developed; instead, ''countess'' is used.
The titl ...
, particularly in relation to heraldic grants issued by the
Lord Lyon
The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new gran ...
.
As of January 2024, the Scottish Barony Register contains a total of 188 registered dignities, predominantly baronies.
See also
*
Baronage of Scotland
In Scotland, "baron" or "baroness" is a rank of the ancient nobility of the Baronage of Scotland, a hereditary Imperial, royal and noble ranks, title of honour, and refers to the holder of a barony, erected into a free barony by Crown Charter, ...
References
[{{Cite web , last=Yellowlees , first=Michael , title=Scottish Barony Titles , url=https://www.lindsays.co.uk/assets/downloads/Rural-Scottish-Barony-Titles.pdf , website=Lindsay WS]
External links
Official website
Scots law
Scots property law
Archives in Scotland