Scotland’s Honours System is unique in that it was created in the 15th century to recognize and reward individual achievement.
The earliest of the Scottish Honours was created by King James II of Scotland, called “the Albany.”
James was made Duke of Albany in 1420.
That may be why there is no Duke of Edinburgh or Duchess of Edinburgh in Scotland. (This could be a sound-alike thing, though.)
Some of the others have been in use since at least the 15th century.
So, if you know your Scottish history, you can figure out when each honor was created.
Scottish Honors
Nobility:
This is the highest level. The monarch or her representative usually confers the titles of Marquee and Knight.
Most are hereditary, with the eldest son or daughter inheriting it. The title may pass to a male heir if there’s no female one available.
You usually get a title from your father: Baron (a Baronet), Viscount, Earl, Marquee, and Knight.
Nobility does have different ranks to it. First, there is peerage.
Since medieval times, this has been a part of the honors system but is not hereditary like the other established titles above.
It’s just a title or rank that you earn during a person’s lifetime through some sustained notable achievement or service to the country.
Since it is a title you earn, it can be more quickly earned than hereditary titles. There is no set number of peerage titles; the number depends on who and what to give.
There are ten different degrees of nobility in Scotland: Baronet (Bran), Baron (Bra), Viscount (Vieve), Earl, Marquee, and Knight.
The lower ones are not created except by letters patent – in other words, they have been conferred since 1425. Only two were created in the 17th century.
The first, Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, was made a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1628.
The second and last was created by Charles I for his loyal supporter Lord Drumlanrig.
He was made a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1630. So, since then, there has been nothing new until the 21st century and the Duke of Edinburgh awards. But, the titles themselves are not new.
Order:
This is the next level down. In a modern sense, this organization has a set name and set membership. The monarch or her representative can grant it.
Membership has a specific lifetime.
Orders are given in a specific order: Order of the Thistle, Order of the Garter, Order of St. Andrew, and Order of the British Empire.
The last three are generally called “Orders” for short. (The most recent one is called The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.)
These last three orders were created in 1917 to recognize gallantry and outstanding service during World War I. The last two – Order of the Garter and Order of St. Andrew – are hereditary.
Companionships:
These typically go along with an order and are not hereditary titles. There are four: Marquis, Viscount, Earl, and Baronet.
Marquee and Knight’s titles are usually granted by the monarch but can also be bestowed by letters patent (as were the first two).
They can be inherited if no male heir or a female one is willing to continue using the title. The titles are usually assigned to an individual after they have distinguished themselves. They do not pass down through the male line.
If you have a title, you usually don’t hold any office except as an advocate, magistrate, or other legal officers; but, sometimes, you can serve as a Lord High Commissioner (either actually or in the name) when another country has governed the Sovereign.
Some people refer to this as a position of honor; others call it “nobility.” It is at least some way of self-identifying.
The title of Knight is usually created by the monarch, who confers it upon an individual. It has been used since 1165 and was originally only for chivalry.
Knights have recently been entitled to a seat in the House of Lords, but that is no longer the case. (Scotland’s House of Lords was abolished in 1999.)
The rank of Marquee is also created by letters patent.
It isn’t a rank in the military but is a title that the monarch creates to recognize outstanding service by a Scottish Military Officer. It is not an Army, Navy, or Air Force rank.
It is one of five ranks created by the monarch; only three are used.
The Earl and Baronet had initially created the King James VI of Scotland when he inherited England in 1603; it was used to recognize land purchases.
Titles And Date Range
The list below gives the titles and the date range they came into being. Some of these are not currently awarded; some have been renamed.
- Duke – 1460s, last awarded 1960
- Marquess – 1493, last awarded 1859
- Earl – 1527, last awarded 1838
- Viscount – 1540, last awarded 1790s (the Earldom of Strathearn was changed to a Viscountcy in 1707)
- Lord of Parliament (or Lord) – 1661, still granted today.
- Baron – 1692, last awarded before 16th century (the Earldom of Ross was created in 1448)
- Knight/Baronet – 1728, last awarded pre-1703 (the Earldom of Cromartie has been extinct since 1951) [more background on this]
- Major-General – 1744, last awarded pre-1703 (The Baronetcy of Haddo has been extinct since 1981)
- Lieutenant-General – 1793, last awarded pre-1703 (. The Baronetcy of Hamilton was created in 1649 and still exists today)
- Sir – 1799, last awarded pre-1703 (The Baronetcy of Inchkenneth by charter was created in 1623. The male line survived until 1991. The Baronetcy was not granted to women until 1943.)
- Baronet – 1828, last awarded pre-1703 (The Baronetcy of Gracemount by charter was created in 1560 and still exists today)
- Colonel – 1900s, last awarded pre-1703 (. The Baronetcy of Polkemmet by charter was created in 1448. The same with the Baronetcy of Castlereagh.)
- Major – 1917, last awarded pre-1703 (The Baronetcy of Stichill by charter was created in 1559 and still exists today)
- Lieutenant-Colonel – 1917, last awarded pre-1703 (The Baronetcy of Dundee by charter was created in 1609 with all extant titles closed for other men, although the female line survived until 1993. The same with the Baronetcy of Kincardine.)
As you can see, the Scottish honors system is very similar to the British honors system. The only difference is that Scotland has a few more provincial and local honors.