Baronage Research Resources
About the Index
An evolving index of known Scottish baronies and related territorial dignities.
Keeper of the Index
Brady Balvaird, Baron of Balvaird
The Index is compiled and kept by Brady Balvaird, 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 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the allodial Barony of Bachuil), and records principal names, variant spellings, counties, classifications and the historical references identified for each entry.
An evolving work in progress. This list represents known baronies identified through the research compiled to date. It may not be complete or exhaustive. Entries, dates and references may be added, corrected or refined as further evidence comes to light. Contributions and corrections are welcome.
Sources and scope
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. The Great Seal and Retour / Lyon columns reproduce the references and accompanying qualifications recorded in the index.
Variant spellings appear under their principal entry where they have been consolidated in the index. Similar names may remain separate where they relate to different places or have not been established as the same dignity. Counties are the historic counties (the old sheriffdoms), given under the names used in the Retours, with the modern name alongside where it differs: Forfar is Angus, Haddington is East Lothian, Linlithgow is West Lothian, Edinburgh is Midlothian, and Elgin and Forres is Moray. Entries associated with more than one county are listed under each.
Historical references and present ownership are separate questions. Inclusion in this research index does not establish the present holder of a dignity.
Reading an entry
“Earliest identified record” gives the year or century recorded in the index; it is not necessarily a date of creation. Where only a century is known, the entry says so.
Where a corresponding Roll entry is linked in the index, follow it for the details recorded there about the dignity and its holder.
Help improve the index
Report an error
Spotted an error, a missing barony or a reference that could improve an entry? Please send the name of the barony, the detail you believe needs attention, and your suggested correction or addition. Where possible, include a source citation, document reference or link.
Opens your email application with a suggested report format, addressed to the Keeper of the Index.
Source: Scottish Baronies Index, version 10-4-26 v4. Research edition dated 4 October 2026.