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Index of first names

Douglas Titles

 

 

 

 

 

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Peerage and baronetage

Members of the Douglas family had the following British titles :

Peerage of Scotland
Duke of Hamilton , Marquess of Clydesdale , Earl of Arran and Cambridge, Lord Aven and Innerdale (1643)
Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran, Lanark and Selkirk, Lord Aven, Machanshire, Polmont and Daer (Life Peerage, 1660)
Duke of Queensberry , Marquess of Dumfriesshire (1684)
Marquess of Douglas , Earl of Angus, Lord Abernerthy and Jedburgh Forest (1633)
Marquess of Queensberry , Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar, Viscount Nith, Torthorwald and Ross, Lord Douglas of Kilmount, Middlebie and Dornock (1682)
Earl of Mar (around 1114)
Earl of Wigtown (1341)
Earl of Douglas (1358)
Earl of Angus (1389)
Earl of Avondale (1437)
Earl of Morton (1458)
Earl of Queensberry , Viscount of Drumlanrig, Lord Douglas of Hawick and Tibbers (1633)
Earl of Lanark , Lord Machanshire and Polmont (1639)
Earl of Arran (1643)
Earl of Selkirk , Lord Daer and Shortcleugh (1646)
Earl of Orkney , Viscount of Kirkwall , Lord Dechmont (1696)
Earl of March , Viscount of Peebles, Lord Douglas of Neidpath, Lyne and Munard (1697)
Earl of Solway , Viscount Tibbers, Lord Douglas of Lockerby, Dalveen and Thornhill (1706)
Viscount of Drumlanrig , Lord Douglas of Hawick and Tibbers (1628)

Peerage of Great Britain
Duke of Dover , Marquess of Beverley, Baron Ripon (1708)
Duke of Brandon , Baron Dutton (1711)
Baron Hamilton of Hameldon (1776)
Baron Douglas of Lochleven (1791); created for George Douglas, 16th Earl of Morton

Peerage of the United Kingdom
Baron Solway (1833) - extinct on the death of Charles Douglas, 6th Marquess of Queensberry
Baron Penrhyn (1866)
Baron Kelhead (1893)
Baron Douglas of Kirtleside (1948)
Baron Selkirk of Douglas (Life Peerage, 1997)

 

Douglas baronets
The Douglas of Glenbervie, Kincardine Baronetcy was created on 28 May 1625 in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. (First creation)
The Douglas of Kelhead, Scotland Baronetcy was created 26 February 1668 in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia.
The Douglas of Carr, Perthshire Baronetcy was created on 23 January 1777 in the Baronetage of Great Britain for Captain (later Admiral) Charles Douglas as a result of his service in Quebec during the American Revolutionary War. Upon Sir Charles' death in 1789, his eldest son, Vice-Admiral Sir William Henry Douglas, inherited the title. Sir William was unmarried, and upon his death in 1809, the baronetcy passed to his youngest brother, General Sir Howard Douglas, their middle brother having died as well. The baronetcy is now extinct.
The Douglas of Maxwell, Roxburgh Baronetcy was created 17 June 1786 in the Baronetage of Great Britain .
The Douglas of Castle Douglas, Kirkudbright Baronetcy was created 17 July 1801 in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.
The Douglas of Glenbervie, Kincardine Baronetcy (second creation) was created on 30 September 1831 in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.

 


  • Lord of Jedburgh Forest was a Lordship of Parliament that was granted to George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus on the occasion of his marriage to the Princess Mary, daughter of Robert III in 1397. It is subsidiary title of the present Earl of Angus, the Duke of Hamilton.
  • Viscount Jedburgh Forest: The Duke of Douglas was raised to the position of Viscount Jedburgh Forest, but he died without heir in 1761.
  • Francis, the soi disant eighth Earl (the son of Francis Wemyss Charteris, "Lord Elcho"). In 1810, upon the death of William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry and 3rd Earl of March, he succeeded as fourth Earl of March, fourth Viscount of Peebles and fourth Lord Douglas of Neidpath, Lyne and Munard as the lineal heir male of the aforementioned Lady Anne Douglas, sister of the first Earl of March (see below). On his accession to these titles he assumed the surname of Charteris-Wemyss-Douglas. In 1821 he was created Baron Wemyss, of Wemyss in the County of Fife, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. In 1826 he also obtained a reversal of the attainder of the earldom of Wemyss and became the eighth Earl of Wemyss.
  • The titles of Lord Douglas of Neidpath, Lyne and Munard, Viscount of Peebles and Earl of March were created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1697 for Lord William Douglas, with remainder to heirs male of his body, failing which to his other heirs male and of tailzie. He was the second son of William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry. He married Anne Douglas-Hamilton, 2nd Countess of Ruglen, daughter of John Douglas, 3rd Earl of Selkirk and 1st Earl of Ruglen. They were both succeeded by their son William, the third Earl of March and third Earl of Ruglen. In 1768 he was created Baron Douglas of Amesbury, in the County of Wiltshire, in the Peerage of Great Britain. In 1778 Lord March and Ruglen also succeeded his first cousin twice removed Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry, as fourth Duke of Queensberry. However, he died unmarried in 1810. On his death the barony of Douglas of Amesbury and earldom of Ruglen became extinct. The dukedom was inherited by his second cousin once removed Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch (see the Duke of Buccleuch for later history of this title) while the marquessate and earldom of Queensberry passed to his kinsman Sir Charles Douglas, 5th Baronet (see the Marquess of Queensberry for later history of these titles). He was succeeded in the earldom of March and its two subsidiary titles by his second cousin once removed Francis Wemyss-Charteris, later the eighth Earl of Wemyss. See above for further history of the titles.
  • Queensberry titles: Duke of Queensberry; Marquess of Dumfriesshire; Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar; Viscount of Nith, Torthorwald and Ross(1); Lord Douglas of Kinmount, Middlebie and Dornock. Also: Earl of Solway; Viscount Tibbers; Lord Douglas of Lockerbie, Dalveen and Thornhill.
  • The feudal title Baron Drumlanrig was created for William Douglas, illegitimate son of James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas, some time before 1427, when he died. His descendant, the 9th Baron Drumlanrig, was created the 1st Earl of Queensberry in 1633.
    The subsidiary titles of Lord Queensberry are: Earl of Queensberry (created 1633), Viscount Drumlanrig (1628) and Lord Douglas of Hawick and Tibbers (1628), all in the peerage of Scotland. He is also a Scottish baronet, styled "of Kelhead", created 26 February 1668, so the 6th Marquess was the 5th Baronet. The courtesy title used by Lord Queensberry's eldest son and heir is Viscount Drumlanrig. There is no special courtesy title for Lord Drumlanrig's eldest son and heir.
  • Buccleuch title: The title Duke of Buccleuch was created in the Peerage of Scotland on 20 April 1663 for the Duke of Monmouth, who was the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II of Scotland, England, and Ireland and who had married Anne Scott, 4th Countess of Buccleuch.
    The subsidiary titles associated with the Dukedom of Buccleuch are: Earl of Buccleuch (1619), Earl of Dalkeith (1663), Lord Scott of Buccleuch (1606) and Lord Scott of Whitchester and Eskdaill (1619) (all in the Peerage of Scotland). The Duke also holds the two subsidiary titles of the attainted Dukedom of Monmouth, namely Earl of Doncaster (1663) and Baron Scott of Tindale (1663) (both in the Peerage of England), and several subsidiary titles associated with the Dukedom of Queensberry, namely Marquess of Dumfriesshire (1683), Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar (1682), Viscount of Nith, Tortholwald and Ross (1682) and Lord Douglas of Kilmount, Middlebie and Dornock (1682) (all in the Peerage of Scotland). The Earldom of Doncaster and Barony of Scott of Tindale had been forfeit at the time of the first Duke's attainder, but the titles were restored to the 2nd Duke of Buccleuch in 1742. Until 1835, the Dukes also held lands in the West Riding of Yorkshire and the ancient title of Lord of Bowland.
    The courtesy title used by the Duke's eldest son and heir is Earl of Dalkeith; and the one of Lord Dalkeith's eldest son and heir is Lord Eskdaill.
  • The title of Lord Douglas of Bonkill, Prestoun and Robertstoun was held by the Duke of Douglas, as was the Marquess of Angus and Abernethy.
  • Duke of Dover, Baron of Rippon and Marquis of Beverley
  • The seventh Earl was created Earl of Avondale and Lord Balveny in 1437, also in the Peerage of Scotland. These titles also became forfeit in 1455.
  • William Douglas, 11th Earl of Angus (1589–1660), was created First Marquess of Douglas by Charles I.
  • Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway, 3rd Earl of Douglas (1325–1400) "the Grim", Bastard cousin of the 1st Earl, created Earl of Wigtown 1372
  • The Earl of Home holds the subsidiary titles of Lord Home (created 1473), and Lord Dunglass (1605), in the Peerage of Scotland; and Baron Douglas, of Douglas in the County of Lanark (1875) in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Various Earls of Home have also claimed the title of Lord Hume of Berwick. The Earl is also Chief of the Name and Arms of Home and heir general to the House of Douglas. The title Lord Dunglass is the courtesy title of the eldest son of the Earl.
  • The title Earl of Morton was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1458 for James Douglas of Dalkeith. Along with it, the title Lord Aberdour was granted. This latter title is the courtesy title for the eldest son and heir to the Earl of Morton.
  • The titles held by the current Duke of Hamilton and Brandon are:
    16th Duke of Hamilton (created 1643)
    13th Marquis of Douglas (created 1633)
    16th Marquis of Clydesdale (created 1643) (Now held by his first-born son)
    23rd Earl of Angus (created 1389)
    13th Earl of Angus (created 1633)
    15th Earl of Lanark (created 1639)
    16th Earl of Arran and Cambridge (created 1643)
    13th Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest (created 1633)
    15th Lord Machanshyre and Polmont (created 1639)
    16th Lord Aven and Innerdale (created 1643)
    13th Duke of Brandon, in the County of Suffolk (created 1711)
    13th Baron Dutton, in the County of Chester (created 1711)
  • The courtesy titles used by heirs apparent of the duke of Hamilton are "Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale" (the eldest son of the Duke) and "Earl of Angus" (the eldest son of a Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale). No Duke has had a great-grandson in direct line to the titles, but it is likely that such an heir would be styled "Lord Abernethy" (the Lordship of Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest being the most senior available title).
    Before the Dukes succeeded to the Marquisate of Douglas and its subsidiary titles, the heirs apparent were styled initially "Earl of Arran" (which had previously been used as a courtesy title by the Marquises of Hamilton) and later "Marquis of Clydesdale" (the former style then being adopted for a grandson in direct line). The heir apparent to the Earldom of Lanark (before that title merged with the Dukedom) was styled "Lord Polmont"
  • James Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of Douglas, PC, QC (born 31 July 1942), briefly The 11th Earl of Selkirk and styled Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (as a younger son of the 14th Duke of Hamilton and Brandon) until 1997
  • Earl of Selkirk is a title in the Peerage of Scotland which was created on 4 August 1646 for Lord William Douglas, third son of William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas, along with the title Lord Daer and Shortcleuch. He married   Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton, on 29 April 1656, and in 1660 he legally changed his surname to "Hamilton", and was created Duke of Hamilton for life, as was then not uncommon practice in Scotland when a peeress in her own right married someone of lesser degree.  there was a  Challenge to the Earl of Selkirk title in 1996.
  • Baron Penrhyn of LLandygai
  • The following titles were held by the Earl of Douglas, at various times.
    Dukedom of Touraine, Earldom of Mar, Earldom of Wigtown, Earldom of Avondale, Lordship of Balvenie- subsidiary title of Lord Avondale, Earldom of Moray, Earl of Ormonde, Lordship of Annandale
    Lordship of Galloway, Comte of Longueville,
    Seigneurie of Dun-le-Roi
  • The title of Comte de Longueville was awarded to Archibald Douglas, Earl of Wigtown (d.1438), and his son William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas (d.1440) in gratitude for the assistance to the future Charles VII of France by the Scottish army rescue led by Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas, killed at the Battle of Verneuil in 1424. Known by French chroniclers as Victon (after Wigton) he also received the honorary title of Seigneurie (Lord) of Dun-le-Roi.
  • Comte de Douglas, syndic of the nobility of Bugey
    Antoine Douglas, chevalier, seigneur de Richagnard en Bugey et de Ployart en Picardie
  • Louis Douglas, Lord of Ployart, c1567
  • Gabriel, Esquire, Lord of Saint-Jacques, c1668
  • Leonel, Esquire, Lord of Ployart, c1632
  • Oliver Douglas, Esquire, Lord & Ployart Arancy of Picardy (?Lord of Ployart) c1550
  • John Douglas, Esquire, Lord of Chateauneuf, c1550
  • Guillaume Douglas (c1420), Jean Douglas (c1450), son of Guillaume, Alain Douglas, son of Jean - Seigneur de Prastulo
  • Jean Douglas (c1450), son of Guillaume, Alain Douglas, son of Jean - Seigneur de Châteauneuf
  • Olivier Douglas †1558, son of Gilles, Philippe Douglas, son of Olivier, Charles Douglas, Marc Douglas, son of Philippe - Seigneur de Ployart
  • Olivier Douglas †1558, Philippe Douglas, Jean Douglas, Charles Douglas, François Marie Hyacinthe Douglas †1763, Marc Douglas - Seigneur d'Arrancy
  • Olivier Douglas †1558, Philippe Douglas, Charles Douglas, Marc Douglas - Seigneur de Ployart
  • Charles Douglas, Marc Douglas - Seigneur de Saint-Jacques
  • Charles Douglas, Marc Douglas - Seigneur de Longueval
  • Marc Douglas - Seigneur de La Suze
  • Charles Douglas, Marc Douglas - Vicomte d'Amifontaine
  • Francois-Prosper Douglas inherited the lordship of Terrebonne from his father-in-law, but it was sold shortly after his death
  • William Douglas, illegitimate son of Archibald The grim was Lord of Nithsdale, Prince of Danskin(2), and Duke of Spruce
  • William Douglas of Liddesdale was granted the Earldom of Atholl in July 1342, which had been retained by the crown for some years. He was only to hold the earldom for a matter of months, before being compelled to resign title to King David's uncle, the High Steward of Scotland Robert Stewart (later Robert II of Scotland).
  • Frefkyn de Douglas (Duglas), and William fiz Andreu de Douglas (Duglas),  'del counte de Linlefcu',  signatories to the Ragman Roll in 1296.  (Linlefcu is now Linlithgow, a town 20 miles west of Edinburgh)
  • Baron of Stobo, created in 1577 for James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, but forfeit when he was executed in 1581 for his part in the murder of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
  • In the Douglas Emerald Charter of May,1324, many Baronies and lands were listed as
    being conferred upon Sir James Douglas by the King (Robert I), including the Barony of Douglas and
    Kirkmichaell, the Barony of Bethocroul (Bedrule), and the Baronies of Westerkirk (Wastyrker/Westerker - Half
    Barony in 1321), Staplegorton (Staplegordon/) in the Valley of Elk in 1320 and Romanno.
  • Titles held by the Douglas Scotti: Marquis of Carpaneto; Marquis of Castelbosco; Marquis of Montalbo; Count of Agazzano; Count of Vigoleno with Carpaneto and Diolo; Count of Colturano and of Cesano; Count of San Giorgio; Count of Fombio; Count of Rezzanello

 

Notes:

1. "Ross" is in Kirkmichael, on the Kinnel Water at 55.184°N 3.467°W.

2.  Prince of Danesrick? - today's Danzig

 

 

See also:
a.  The Emerald Charter with details of  lands conferred upon Sir James, Lord of Douglas by King Robert 1st, including Baronies.

b.  Douglases in France for details of the French titles.

c.  Douglases in Italy for details of Italian titles

d.  Challenge to the Earl of Selkirk title

e.  For Kirriemuir, Abernethy, Kirkton of Douglas, Crawford-Douglas, Preston, Bothwell, Selkirk, Strathaven and Drumlethie (Drumlithie), see Extracts from The Arms of the Baronial and Police Burghs of Scotland [pdf]

 

Have I missed any?  Any contributions will be gratefully accepted as would suggestions as how to make the page more user friendly.



 

 

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Last modified: Thursday, 22 February 2024