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A Laird is a hereditary title in Scotland and is also a title of Gentry. The title of Laird may carry certain local or feudal rights, though unlike a Lordship, a Lairdship has never carried voting rights, either in the historic Parliament of Scotland or, after unification with the Kingdom of England, in the British House of Lords.

Though sometimes mistranslated as "Lord", Laird is not a title of nobility. Indeed the title "Laird" is never used to refer to anyone in speech or writing. However, the 'title' of laird is a 'corporeal heriditament' (an inheritable property that has an explicit tie to the physical land), i.e. the title can not be held in gross, and can not be bought and sold without selling the physical land. Though the title Laird is not gender specific, in more recent times some female Lairds have opted to use the title Lady instead.

History and Definition

A Laird is a member of Gentry and is a title which is implied to the owner of a landed estate in the United Kingdom. The title Laird is a shortened form of 'laverd' which is an old Scottish word deriving from an Anglo-Saxon term meaning Lord and is also derived from the middle English word 'Lard' also meaning 'Lord'.

In the 15th Century the title was used for land owners holding directly of the crown and therefore were entitled to attend parliament. Lairds reigned over their estates like princes, their castles forming a little court. Originally in the 16th Century and 17th Century the title was applied to the head chief of a highland clan and therefore was not personal property and had obligations towards the community.

A Laird is said to hold a Lairdship. A woman who holds a Lairdship in her own right or is the wife of a Laird is styled Lady

Forms of Address

• In the United Kingdom a Laird is formally styled as "The Much Honoured of " or "The Much Honoured The Laird of " or "The Much Honoured , Laird of "

• If a woman holds a Lairdship in her own right it is normally styled "Lady" and is formally styled as "The Much Honoured of " or "The Much Honoured The Lady of " or "The Much Honoured , Lady "

• The wife of a Laird is styled in the same way as a woman who holds a Lairdship in her own right

• The heir apparent of a Laird is entitled to use the courtesy title "The Younger" (see Younger (Title)) and the eldest daughter is entitled to use the courtesy title "Maid of " (see Maid (Title)). Neither are titles of nobility or peerage.

• The younger children of a Laird are styled as "Mr of " if male, and "Miss of if female

• A definite article is not used and the "of" must be retained to distinguish from titles of the nobility. In some cases Laird is translated as 'Lord' but this can cause confusion.

See also

• Younger (Title)
• Maid (Title)
• The Much Honoured
• Forms of address in the United Kingdom

Notes

1. Perelman, p.141 ( ch. 7 )

References

• Perelman, Michael The Invention of Capitalism: Classical Political Economy and the Secret History of Primitive Accumulation Published by Duke University Press, 2000 ISBN 0822324911, 9780822324911

1. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-lairds.html

2. http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/territorial-designation.html

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