Scottish Feudal Baronies - Etiquette & Protocol

[Biggar]

I am thinking here of a person who has no family connection with
Scotland whatsoever and who has bought a Feudal Barony.
Is it considered 'bad form' for him to use the title 'Baron Of ...'
as his everyday name (whether or not he is entitled to),

particularly

in England, where he is obviously allowing people to assume that it

is

an English title.

Yes - especially if not entitled to it. Even then, I know at least
four feudal barons (one 3 or 4 times over) who would never use such a
style except in jest or if someone was *really* pissing them off and
the high handed approach was the only thing to do. Even then, the use
of a title doesn't really impress many people these days. In many
circumstances it could have the opposite effect to the one intended.
Of course there's not much you can do about it. Sniggering is good.

If

an acquaintence starts doing it, the cut direct is suitable etquette.
James
James Dempster
Briefadel and tradespeople to the side door please.

[Biggar]

I am thinking here of a person who has no family connection with
Scotland whatsoever and who has bought a Feudal Barony.
Is it considered 'bad form' for him to use the title 'Baron Of ...'
as his everyday name (whether or not he is entitled to),

particularly

in England, where he is obviously allowing people to assume that it

is

an English title.

Yes - especially if not entitled to it. Even then, I know at least
four feudal barons (one 3 or 4 times over) who would never use such a
style except in jest or if someone was *really* pissing them off and
the high handed approach was the only thing to do. Even then, the use
of a title doesn't really impress many people these days. In many
circumstances it could have the opposite effect to the one intended.
Of course there's not much you can do about it. Sniggering is good.

If

an acquaintence starts doing it, the cut direct is suitable etquette.
James
James Dempster
Briefadel and tradespeople to the side door please.

An oldish thread but nonetheless interesting!
'Briefadel to the rear entrance' would be, if really ever on a sign, of
course appalling snobbery. James is of course joking, I know.
My Uradel relatives would never dream of being so rude and vulgar.
Briefadel is simply not worth mentioning..(yes that *is* a joke!), and
like everyone in my family I was brought up to be polite to all,
whether dowager duchess or dustman. With regard to feudal baronies, I
wonder how many are really purchased because the owner wants to pose
with a title. Posing can come a lot cheaper! I suspect that most are
purchased because the buyer has an interest in Scotland, history,
armory, tradition or all four of these. It is ungentlemanly to
attribute motives to people when one does not know them. If someone
wishes to know why person A purchased barony B then one must asl
him/her. And if anyone wants to ask me, then feel free to do so!
Charles Ross of Biggar

[Stephen]

If I had a surplus of cash and the agreement of my wife, I would
probably be interested in looking at a Scottish Barony or an English
Lordship of a Manor. The top of my wish list would be those areas
connected with my family history - Tweeddale and the West County. If
there were none available or they were beyond my financial reach I
would look in another area/region. I have a passion for history (in
addition to heraldry & genealogy) and so I would want to learn as much
as possible about the history of any barony/manor I bought. As for
posing - one of the greatest "crimes" when I was at school was to be a
"swank" and I'm afraid that particular doctrine has rather stuck with
me.

However, I have a few more pressing financial commitments starting with
three children....... ;-)

Yours aye

Stephen
Lord of all he Surveys - Well, as far as the fence post and shared with
the mortgage company.

[g***@gmail.com]

I am thinking here of a person who has no family connection with
Scotland whatsoever and who has bought a Feudal Barony.
Is it considered 'bad form' for him to use the title 'Baron Of ...'
as his everyday name (whether or not he is entitled to), particularly
in England, where he is obviously allowing people to assume that it is
an English title.
Sorry if this is OT but I have been following the (connected) thread
on 'Prince Michael' and feel that I would get the correct answer here.
Thanks.
Sally.

The Scottish feudal baron is in fact a non-peerage title of nobility. If you receive arms from the Lord Lyon of Scotland in which this is mentioned then your title has essentially been recognized by a Minister of the Crown who is also a member of the Royal Household. Despite this many of the feudal barons arose from the Scottish Crown while independent from England. In fact the feudal barons of Scotland signed what was in essence Scotland's Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of Arboath in 1320. The baronage is an important part of Scottish history while still being recognized by the British Crown.

Signed,
George M. Burden, Baron of Seabegs

[g***@gmail.com]

I am thinking here of a person who has no family connection with
Scotland whatsoever and who has bought a Feudal Barony.
Is it considered 'bad form' for him to use the title 'Baron Of ...'
as his everyday name (whether or not he is entitled to), particularly
in England, where he is obviously allowing people to assume that it is
an English title.
Sorry if this is OT but I have been following the (connected) thread
on 'Prince Michael' and feel that I would get the correct answer here.
Thanks.
Sally.

The Scottish feudal baron is in fact a non-peerage title of nobility. If you receive arms from the Lord Lyon of Scotland in which this is mentioned then your title has essentially been recognized by a Minister of the Crown who is also a member of the Royal Household. Despite this many of the feudal barons arose from the Scottish Crown while independent from England. In fact the feudal barons of Scotland signed what was in essence Scotland's Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of Arboath in 1320. The baronage is an important part of Scottish history while still being recognized by the British Crown.

George