thumb|300px|[[Ayton, Scottish Borders|Ayton Castle, Scottish Borders, caput of the barony of Ayton. Built in 1851 in the Scottish Baronial style by William Mitchell-Innes, then baron of Ayton, to the design of James Gillespie Graham]]
In Scotland, a "baron" or "baroness" holds a barony within the Baronage of Scotland, the historic body of minor Scottish nobility. Scottish baronies are heritable titles of honour, originally created by royal charter from the medieval period onward, and are transferable as well as inheritable. They are distinct from the Peerage of Scotland: a Scottish baron is not a peer, and the Scottish equivalent of an English baron is the higher title of Lord of Parliament. Holders are sometimes referred to as minor barons.
Historically, a barony combined a defined estate with land with local jurisdictional power; barons administered justice through baron's courts, and sat in the Parliament of Scotland. Their powers were curtailed in the 18th century, and Scottish baronies survived into modern times principally as titles of honour attached to land. The Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, which came into force in 2004, severed baronies from the land to which they had been attached. As a result, baronies are freely tradeable as incorporeal property, and a market in the titles has developed. although the Lord Lyon King of Arms has no jurisdiction over the legal transfer of the title itself.
History
Scottish baronies originated as grants of land by the Crown in liberam baroniam, conferring on the holder both an estate and the jurisdiction to administer justice within it. They were heritable and, in time, prescriptive: a barony attached to the land rather than to the person, and could be alienated together with the caput, the principal seat of the barony, rather than passing solely by inheritance. Where the original charter was later lost, an official extract from the Register carried the same legal weight. The Lyon Register, established in 1672, performed the equivalent function for armorial bearings: from that date no arms could be lawfully borne in Scotland unless recorded in the Lyon Register.
Barons sat in the Parliament of Scotland as part of the Second Estate. An Act of 1428 by James I sought to allow the smaller barons to be represented by elected shire commissioners, but the measure was inoperative; shire representation did not become regular until the 1428 act was revived in 1587. Greater barons frequently acquired peerage titles over time, becoming lords of parliament, earls, or dukes; lesser barons retained local influence through their baron's courts.
Following the Acts of Union of 1707, legislative authority over Scottish private law passed to the Parliament of Great Britain at Westminster and, from 1999, to the devolved Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Parliament's first major reform of land law was the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, which came fully into force on 28 November 2004. The Act abolished the feudal system of land tenure in Scotland and severed baronies from the land to which they had been attached. Existing baronies were preserved as dignities – incorporeal hereditaments, comparable in status to hereditary peerages, baronetcies, and coats of arms – but no longer conferred any right to land.
Since 2000, baronies are thus "floating" dignities, capable of being assigned by their holder or bequeathed by will. The Court of the Lord Lyon retains jurisdiction over the heraldic aspects of baronies; a holder may petition for a grant of arms and for the appropriate baronial additaments. The Court has no jurisdiction over the legal assignation of baronies, which is a matter of civil law.
Aquisition and transfer since 2004
The Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 separated Scottish baronies from the land to which they had been previously attached. The practical effect was to make the titles freely tradeable: a barony can be bought, sold, gifted, or bequeathed independently of any landholding, and the buyer becomes the new holder of the dignity. Baronies may be acquired by any individual regardless of nationality or place of residence, A market of solicitors and brokers in Scotland and elsewhere advertises baronial titles for sale. Reported asking prices typically range from the low tens of thousands of pounds for less historically prominent titles to substantially higher sums for those with notable historical associations or surviving caputs; prices in the region of £80,000 to £140,000 or more have been reported.
Styles and forms of address
Holders of a Scottish barony may incorporate the title into their name in the form "John Doe, Baron of X" or "Jane Doe, Baroness of X". Where the holder is also in possession of the caput, the territorial designation may be combined with the title, as in "John Doe of X, Baron of X"; some families prefer to use the territorial designation alone ("Doe of X"). The name recorded by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in a grant or matriculation of arms becomes the holder's official name for legal purposes.
The standard third-person forms are "The Baron of X" and "The Baroness of X". The forms "Baron X" and "Lord X" are incorrect, as both imply a peerage title, specifically that of Lord of Parliament, the Scottish equivalent of an English baron. Where the husband holds the barony, his wife is granted a courtesy title and may be styled "Baroness of X" or "Lady X"; the husband of a substantive baroness receives no courtesy title. Between the 1930s and 2004, the Lord Lyon also granted a chapeau or cap of maintenance to barons as part of their armorial achievement: gules doubled ermine for barons in possession of the caput, and an azure version for heirs of ancient baronial families no longer holding the estates. The Baron of the Bachuil is uniquely permitted to use a chapeau lined with vair (squirrel fur). The chapeau was an addition introduced under Thomas Innes of Learney as Lord Lyon and is no longer granted; many earlier baronial arms do not include it.
List of baronies
Below is an incomplete list of baronies created in the Scottish baronage. Titles in italics are subsidiary baronial titles held by the same baron. Titles linked and with The before the name is the holder's primary title.
{| class="wikitable"
!width=220|Title
!Creation date
|-
|The Baron of Abbotshall
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Abergeldie
|1482
|-
|The Baron of Aden
|1333
|-
|The Baron of Alford
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Alforshire
|
|-
|Baron of Trent
|
|-
|The Baron of Anstruther
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Ardblair
|1399
|-
|Baron of Gask
|
|-
|The Baron of Ardgour
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Ardgowan
|13c
|-
|The Baron of Ardgrain
|
|-
|The Baron of Ardoch
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Arndilly
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Arnisdale
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Arnot
|1507
|-
|The Baron of Auchreoch
|15C
|-
|The Baron of Auchendarroch
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Auchenhove
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Auchindoir
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Auchinleck
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Auchmacoy
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Auchterhouse
|13c
|-
|The Baron of Auchtermunzie
|1437
|-
|Baron of Auchterutherstruther
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Ayton
|17c
|-
|The Baron of the Bachuil
|9c
|-
|The Baron of Badenscoth
|1823
|-
|The Baron of Balcaskie
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Balfluig
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Ballencrieff (East Lothian)
|
|-
|The Baron of Ballencrieff (West Lothian)
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Ballindalloch
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Ballumbie
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Balmachreuchie
|15c
|-
|Baron of Balmain
|1475
|-
|The Baron of Balmore
|1478
|-
|The Baron of Balquhain
|1670
|12c
|-
|The Baron of Bavelaw
|
|-
|The Baron of Bearcrofts
|1697
|-
|The Baron of Bedrule
|
|-
|The Baron of Belton
|c. 1468
|-
|The Baron of Benholm
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Biggar
|1451
|-
|The Baron of Blackburn
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Blackford
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Blackhall
|1395
|-
|The Baron of Blackness
|
|-
|The Baron of Blair
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Blantyre
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Bognie
|1635
|-
|Baron of Mountblairy
|1812
|-
|The Baron of Bombie
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Buittle
|1315
|-
|The Baron of Brigton
|1761
|-
|The Baron of Brough
|
|-
|Baron of Buchan Forest
|
|-
|Baron of Blairbuis
|
|-
|Baron of Corsewall
|
|-
|Baron of Glencammon
|
|-
|The Baron of Buquhollie and Freswick
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Byres
|1366
|-
|Baron of Calder
|14c
|-
|The Baron of Cambusnethan
|1315
|-
|The Baron of Carmichael
|14c
|-
|The Baron of Carnoustie
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Carnwath
| rowspan="8" |
|-
|Baron of Braidwood
|-
|Baron of Walston
|-
|Baron of Dryden
|-
|Baron of Covington
|-
|Baron of Milntown
|-
|Baron of Westshield
|-
|Baron of Newholm
|-
|The Baron of Carstairs
|14c
|-
|Baron of Baldoon
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Cartsburn
|1669
|-
|Baron of Castlehill
|1411
|-
|Baron of Caskieben
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Castle Stewart
|1638
|-
|The Baron of Cavers
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Chirnside
|
|-
|The Baron of Clackmannan
|1334
|-
|The Baron of Cleghorn
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Clerkington
|1369
|-
|The Baron of Closeburn
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Clugstoun
|1471
|-
|The Baron of Cluny
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Cluny
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Cockenzie
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Coigach
|1511
|-
|The Baron of Coldingknows
|1634
|-
|The Baron of Elphinstone
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Colstoun
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Corrachree
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Corstorphine
|1431
|-
|The Baron of Coupar
|1606
|-
|The Baron of Cowie (Aberdeen)
|
|-
|The Baron of Cowie (stirling)
|12c
|-
|Baron of Coxton
|1686
|-
|The Baron of Craighall
|
|-
|The Baron of Craigie
|1666
|-
|Baron of Craigievar
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Craigmillar
|1511
|-
|The Baron of Cranshaws
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Crawfordjohn
|13c
|-
|The Baron of Crichton
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Crimond
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Cromar
|
|-
|The Baron of Cromarty
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Crommey
|18c
|-
|The Baron of Culbin
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Culcreuch
|c. 1472
|-
|The Baron of Cushnie
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Dairsie
|18c
|-
|The Baron of Dalziel
|
|-
|The Baron of Danira and Comrie
|
|-
|The Baron of Delvine
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Denboig
|1657
|-
|The Baron of Denny
|16c
|-
|Baron of Fullarton
|
|-
|The Baron of Dinnet
|14c
|-
|Baron of Dirleton
|1220
|-
|The Baron of Dolphinstoun
|c. 1700
|-
|The Baron of Dowart
|1496
|-
|The Baron of Drum
|1323
|-
|Baron of Drylaw
|
|-
|Baron of Duart and Morvern
|1631
|-
|The Baron of Dudhope
|1542
|-
|The Baron of Dun
|1382
|-
|Baron of Dunconnel
|1400
|-
|The Baron of Duncrub
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Dunure
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Earlshall
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Easter Gordon
|
|-
|The Baron of Echlin
|18c
|-
|The Baron of Edingight
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Elie and St Monans
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Entwistle
|1212
|-
|The Baron of Esslemont
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Ethie
|
|-
|Baron of Eyemouth
|18c
|-
|The Baron of Fetternear
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Fingalton
|1663
|-
|The Baron of Finlaystone Maxwell
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Finzean
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Fithie
|
|-
|The Baron of Fordell
|1511
|-
|The Baron of Freuch
|1559
|-
|The Baron of Gala
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Garrallan
|14c
|-
|The Baron of Garthland
|c. 1637
|-
|The Baron of Gartly
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Gartmore
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Giffen
| rowspan="4" |1371
|-
|Baron of Trearne
|-
|Baron of Ramshead
|-
|Baron of Stane
|-
|The Baron of Gilmerton
|1667
|-
|The Baron of Glasserton
|1542
|-
|The Baron of Glencoe
|
|-
|The Baron of Glendowachy
|
|-
|The Baron of Gleneagles
|
|-
|The Baron of Glenfaier
|
|-
|The Baron of Glenfalloch
|14c
|-
|The Baron of Glengarnock
|
|-
|The Baron of Glenluce
|c. 1628
|-
|The Baron of Glentirian
|
|-
|The Baron of Gogar
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Gourdie
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Gourock
|18c
|-
|The Baron of Grandhome
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Grantully
|15c
|-
|Baron of Greenlaw
|1451
|-
|The Baron of Greenan
|16c
|-
|Baron of Clary
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Greenock
|18c
|-
|The Baroness of Grougar
|1321
|-
|The Baron of Haliburton and Lambden
|1451
|-
|Baron of Hallrule
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Buncle and Preston
|14c
|-
|The Baron of Over Liberton
|
|-
|The Baron of Haddington
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Hartsyde
|1345
|-
|The Baron of Herbertshire
|1523
|-
|The Baron of Horsbrugh
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Houston
|c. 1296
|-
|The Baron of Inchdrewer
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Insch
|1528
|-
|The Baron of Invermessan
|1566
|-
| The Baron of Inneryne
|10c
|-
|The Baron of Innes
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Inverallochy
|
|-
|The Baron of Invercauld and Omnalprie
|
|-
|The Baron of Jedburgh Forest
| 1602
|-
|The Baron of Keith Marischal
|1150
|-
|The Baron of Kellie
|1619
|-
|The Baron of Kelly
|
|-
|The Baron of Kemnay
|
|-
|The Baron of Kerse
|
|-
|The Baron of Kersland
|
|-
|The Baron of Kilbirnie
|1600
|-
|The Baron of Kilcoy
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Kilduthie
|
|-
|The Baron of Kilmichael
|1541
|-
|Baron of Kilmun
|
|-
|Baron of Innerwick
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Kilmaurs
|
|-
|The Baron of Kilpunt
|
|-
|The Baron of Kilravock
|1293
|-
|The Baron of Kinblathmond
|
|-
|The Baroness of Kincaid
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Kincraig
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Kinedar
|
|-
|The Baron of Kinnaber
|
|-
|The Baron of Kinnairdy
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Kinnear
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Kinross
|
|-
|The Baroness of Kippenross
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Kirkbuddo
|1463
|-
|The Baron of Kirkdale
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Kirkgunzeon
|
|-
|The Baron of Kirkliston
|1618
|-
|The Baron of Kirriemuir
|1390
|-
|The Baron of Kirknewton
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Kirkton
|17c
|-
|Burgh of Barony of Kirkstyle
|
|-
|The Baron of Krawfort
|1576
|-
|The Baron of Lag
|1685
|-
|The Baron of Lamberton
|c. 1236
|-
|The Baron of Lamden
|
|-
|The Baron of Lamington
|
|-
|The Baron of Largo
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Lathallan
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Lee
|1272
|-
|The Baron of Lenzie
|1170
|-
|The Baron of Lescure
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Leslie (Aberdeenshire)
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Lesmahagow
|
|-
|The Baron of Lethendy
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Lethington
|c. 1166
|-
|The Baron of Lintrathen
|
|-
|The Baron of Little Pert
|
|-
|The Baron of Lochfergus
|16c
|-
|Baron of Locherwart
|
|-
|Baron of Heriotmuir
|
|-
|The Baron of Loch Mullion
|c. 1700
|-
|The Baron of Lochnaw
|1699
|-
|The Baron of Lochrounell
|c. 1630
|-
|The Baron of Logany
|c. 1576
|-
|The Baron of Logie
|
|-
|The Baron of Logiealmond
|
|-
|The Baron of Loncastell
|c. 1551
|-
|The Baron of Loudoun
|12c
|-
|The Baron of Lour
|1654
|-
|The Baron of Lundie
|1489
|-
|The Baron of Marchmont
|17c
|-
|Baron of MacDonald
|17c
|-
|The Baron of MacDougall
|1660
|-
|The Baron of MacDuff
|1039
|-
|The Baron of McAuslane of Caldenocht
|c. 1395
|-
|The Baron of Martyn-Kennedy alias Frethrid
|c. 1541
|-
|The Baron of Mearns
|12c
|-
|The Baron of Meigle and Fullerton
|1165
|-
|The Baron of Melfort
|1360
|-
|The Baron of Melgund
|
|-
|The Baron of Melville
|
|-
|The Baron of Menie
|1317
|-
|The Baron of Menzies
|1510
|-
|The Baron of Mertoun
|1504
|-
|The Baron of Midmar
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Miltonhaven
|1695
|-
|The Baron of Mochrum
|c. 1472
|-
|The Baron of Moncreiffe
| rowspan="2" |1248
|-
|Baron of Easter Moncreiffe
|-
|The Baron of Montgomeriestoun
|c. 1636
|-
|The Baron of Mordington
|1124
|-
|The Baron of Mouswald
|1452
|-
|The Baron of Moy
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Mugdock
|1458
|-
|The Baron of Muirton
|1532
|-
|The Baron of Mullion
|1446
|-
|The Baron of Mureth
|c. 1514
|-
|The Baron of Myrton
|c. 1470
|-
|The Baron of Newabbay
|
|-
|The Baron of Newton
|1685
|-
|The Baron of Niddrie Marischal
|1672
|-
|Baron of Hallyards
|
|-
|The Baron of Smeaton Hepburn
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Stobo
|1577
|-
|The Baron of Stonehaven
|
|-
|The Baron of Stoneywood
|15c
|-
|The Baron of Strathlachlan
|
|-
|The Baron of Strichen
|1514
|-
|The Baron of Struan
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Swinton
|1098
|-
|The Baron of Tarbert
|
|-
|The Baron of Teallach
|17c
|-
|The Baron of Thainstone
|1488
|-
|The Baron of Thankerton
|
|-
|The Baron of Torboll
|1360
|-
|The Baron of Tranent
|16c
|-
|The Baron of Traquair
|1491
|-
|The Baron of Troup
|
|-
|The Baron of Tulloch
|1678
|-
|The Baron of Turriff
|1592