The Much Honoured (abbreviated to The Much Hon.) is an honorific style applied to the holders of certain Scottish feudal baronies and Clan chiefs.

The Much Honoured Cameron of Lochiel, an example of a hereditary clan chief, feudal baron and laird who is styled thus[1]

Overview

There were around 350 identifiable local baronies in Scotland by the early fifteenth century and these could mostly be mapped against local parish boundaries.[2] In addition, there are a small number of feudal earldoms (Aboyne, Angus, Arran, Breadalbane, Crawfurd-Lindsay, Dunbar, Errol, Lennox, Nithsdale, Orkney, Rothes, Wigtown), one feudal marquessate (Huntly) and one feudal dukedom (Hamilton), all held in baroneum, where there is entitlement. Of these, two earldoms are unclaimed, one is in dispute and the dukedom and marquessate are held by senior members of the Scottish peerage.

The highest-ranking feudal baron in Scotland is The Much Hon. The Baron of Renfrew, HRH The Duke of Rothesay; by tradition both titles being held concurrently by the heir apparent to the British throne. The Marquess of Huntly and The Earl of Eglinton and Winton are other notable title holders.

Genuine territorial lairds (not those owning souvenir plots of land) style themselves "The Much Honoured". This practice is now in decline - with notable exceptions, namely that of Catherine Maxwell-Stuart, 21st Lady of Traquair. The official use of titles and honorifics in Scotland comes under the jurisdiction of the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh.[3]

Usage

Historically, the honorific is used in association with three groups:

The eldest son of a Scots baron is entitled to be addressed by courtesy as the Younger (abbreviated to the Yr); the eldest daughter of a Scots baron, if heir apparent, is entitled to use the courtesy title The Maid of [name of barony] (e.g. David Leslie the Younger and The Maid of Leslie).

The honorific "The Much Honoured" is distinct from honorifics attaching to Peers of the Realm.

See also

References

  1. ^ Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Iain (1982). The Highland Clans. Barrie & Jenkins. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-09-144740-3.
  2. ^ Alexander Grant, Franchises North of the Border: Baronies and Regalities in Medieval Scotland, Chapter 9, Michael Prestwich. ed., Liberties and Identities in Medieval Britain and Ireland (Boydell Press: Woodbridge, 2008)
  3. ^ "Territorial Designationse, Scottish History Online, Scotland - UK". www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
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