Formalities of the Scottish Baronage

There are certain specific forms of address that pertain to holders of a Scottish barony such as the Lordship and Barony of Fentoun. The holder of a barony is known as the Baron of XXX, or by his name, followed by “Baron of XXX.” (It would, however, be quite improper to refer to him as “Baron XXX” – without the crucial preposition “of” – for that would suggest a peerage lordship, which a Scottish baronage title most emphatically is not.) This same usage applies to lordships in the Scottish baronage, though they are of slightly higher rank than an ordinary baron, such that the holder of the Lordship and Barony of Fentoun would be titled Lord of Fentoun, by his name followed by “Lord of Fentoun,” or perhaps simply by his surname followed by “of Fentoun.” 

In situations in which the speaker would ordinarily address a non-titled person as “Mr. Smith,” one may address a Scottish feudal baron or lord as, for instance, “Fentoun,” or in a letter as “Dear Fentoun” – just as the wife of the lord might equally casually be referred to, face-to-face, as “Lady Fentoun.” (Care should be taken here, however, to avoid situations in which this might be mistaken as referring to a peerage title.) By contrast, in extremely formal usage, the prefix “The Much Honourable” may be used (e.g., “The Much Hon. XXX, Lord of Fentoun”). Because Fentoun is both a lordship and a barony, either type of usage would be appropriate – or perhaps both (e.g., “Lord and Baron of Fentoun”) – but being the higher-ranking title, the lordship form would ordinarily be expected.

For a male baron who is married, the traditional courtesy style for the couple would be “The Baron and Baroness of XXX,” with the corresponding lordship address being, for instance, “The Lord and Lady of Fentoun,” or “The Lord of Fentoun and Lady Fentoun.” The wife of the holder of a Scottish barony may be identified by her name, followed by “Baroness of XXX” – or, correspondingly, for the wife of a lord, “Lady of XXX.”  (The wife of the Lord of Fentoun is thus identified by her name followed by “Lady of Fentoun.”) 

The male heir of a Scottish baron is generally styled with his name, followed by “of XXX, younger” or “younger of XXX.” (In conversation, it might be “Young XXX.”) The daughter of a baron may also add the titular designation “of XXX” after her name, or use her name followed by “Maid of XXX.” The daughter of the Lord of Fentoun is thus styled by her name, followed by “of Fentoun,” or simply with her name followed by “Maid of Fentoun.” Were she to inherit the lordship herself, becoming holder of the title in her own right, the Maid of Fentoun would thereby become the Lady of Fentoun or Lady Fentoun (or alternatively, using the lesser baronage title, Baroness of Fentoun).