In liberam baroniam · per cartas nostras
The Index of Scottish Baronies
An evolving index of known Scottish baronies and related territorial dignities, bringing together their names, places and historical references, with links to entries on the Roll of the Baronage of Scotland.
4 October 2026 edition · 1,872 entries · Work in progress
The Index
A record of Scotland’s baronies
Over a 800 year period, it is believed that nearly three-thousand baronies were erected in Scotland by Crown charter. This index is designed to provide a comprehensive list of every barony created by the Crown. It brings together known Scottish baronies (including the allodial Barony of Bachuil), and records principal names, variant spellings, counties, classifications and the historical references identified for each entry.
The Index
The historical record
Names, places and documentary references provide a starting point for research into a barony’s history. The wording and qualifications of individual entries are retained.
The Roll
The recorded holder
Where a corresponding Roll entry is linked in the index, follow it for the details recorded there about the dignity and its holder.
Keeper of the Index
Brady Balvaird, Baron of Balvaird
The Index is compiled and kept by Brady, Baron of Balvaird, a member of the Governing Council of the Baronage of Scotland Association, from his research in the Register of the Great Seal and the Retours.
The meaning of barony
What is a barony in Scotland?
A barony in Scotland was an estate of land held directly of the Crown and erected by royal charter into a “free barony” (in liberam baroniam), with its own court and a head place, the caput. Feudal baronies were abolished on 28 November 2004 and the dignity of baron was kept: a Scottish barony today is that dignity, a personal title no longer attached to land.
Master Index
Known Scottish Baronies
This evolving list of known baronies may not be complete or exhaustive. “Earliest identified record” gives the year or century recorded in the index; it is not necessarily a date of creation.
| Barony | County | Type | Earliest record | The Roll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotis-Carsealso Abbottis-Carse | Stirling | Barony; Regality | — | |
| Abbotiskerse | Linlithgow | Barony; Regality | — | |
| Abbotrule | Roxburgh | Barony | — | |
| Abbotshall | Fife | Barony | 17th century | On the Roll |
| Aberbothrie | Perth | Barony | — | |
| Aberbrothockalso Aberbrothok | Angus; Aberdeen; Edinburgh; Forfar; Kincardine; Lanark; Nairn; Perth | Barony; Regality | — | |
| Abercairnyalso Abercairney | Perth | Barony | — | On the Roll |
| Abercherdour | Banff | Barony | — | |
| Abercorne | Edinburgh; Linlithgow | Barony | — | |
| Abercrombie | Fife | Barony | 1646 | |
| Aberdagie | Perth | Barony | — | |
| Aberdeen | Aberdeen | Barony | — | |
| Aberdour | Aberdeen; Fife | Barony; Regality | 1351 | On the Roll |
| Abergeldie | — | Barony | 16th century | On the Roll |
| Aberlady | Haddington | Barony | — | |
| Aberlemno | Forfar | Barony | — | |
| Aberlour | Banff | Barony | — | |
| Abernethie in Rothiemayalso Abernathie in Rothemay, Abernethy in Rothiemay | Berwick; Roxburgh; Forfar | Barony | — | |
| Abernethyalso Abernethie | Banff; Perth | Barony; Lordship | 16th century | Pending List |
| Abernyt | Perth | Barony | — | |
| Aberruthven | Perth | Barony | — | |
| Abertarff | Inverness | Barony | — | |
| Aberzeldie | Aberdeen | Barony | — | |
| Abirbrothok | Aberdeen | Barony; Regality | — | |
| Abirlady | Edinburgh | Barony | — | |
| Aboyne | Aberdeen | Barony; Lordship; Earldom | 15th century | Pending List |
| Aden | — | Barony | 1333 | Pending List |
| Aird | Dumfries; Inverness | Barony | — | |
| Airdlen | Forfar | Barony | — | |
| Airlie | Forfar | Barony | — | |
| Airth | Stirling | Barony | — | |
| Airth-Bisset | Stirling | Barony | — | |
| Airth-Cumbernauld | Stirling | Barony | — | |
| Aithry | Linlithgow; Stirling | Barony | — | |
| Alderstoun | Haddington | Barony | — | |
| Alford | — | Barony | 17th century | On the Roll |
| Alforshire | — | Barony | 15th century | Pending List |
| Allanes | Ross and Cromarty | Barony | — | |
| Allardes | Kincardine | Barony | — | |
| Allathen | Aberdeen | Barony | — | |
| Allhammer | Haddington | Barony | — | |
| Allindovan | Ross and Cromarty | Barony | — | |
| Alloa | Clackmannan | Barony; Regality | 1489 | On the Roll |
| Alloway | Stirling | Barony; Regality | — | |
| Alter | Elgin and Forres | Barony | — | |
| Altrie | Aberdeen; Banff | Barony | — | |
| Alva | Clackmannan; Stirling | Barony; Regality | 1694 | |
| Alveth | Stirling | Barony | — | |
| Alyth | Perthshire | Barony | 1427 | Pending List |
| Amisfeildalso Amisfield | Dumfries | Barony | — | |
| Ancrum | Roxburgh | Barony | — | |
| Ancrum-Nether | Roxburgh | Barony | — | |
| Andare-Sancti | Aberdeen | Barony | — | |
| Angus | Perth | Barony | — | |
| Annandalealso Annandaill | Dumfries; Fife | Barony; Lordship; Earldom; Regality | — | On the Roll |
| Annfeildalso Annfield | Dumfries | Barony | — | |
| Anstruther | Fife | Barony | 12th century | On the Roll |
| Antermony | Stirlingshire | Barony | — | |
| Apilgirthalso Appilgarth, Apilgarth, Appilgirthe, Apelgirth | Dumfries | Barony | 1573 | |
| Appin | Argyll | Barony | — |
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Browse
By county
Counties are the historic counties, under the names used in the Retours; the modern name is shown where it differs. Entries associated with more than one county are listed under each. 110 entries have no county recorded yet and appear only in the A to Z list.
By type
Every entry is recorded as a barony. Some are also recorded as a higher dignity or as a regality.
Sources and scope
Where the references come from
The references bring together material from the Register of the Great Seal, the Retours of Services of Heirs, Lyon records, Crown charters, archival catalogues and other historical sources.
An evolving work in progress
Help improve the index
This list represents known baronies identified through the research compiled to date. Entries, dates and references may be added, corrected or refined as further evidence comes to light. Contributions and corrections are welcome.