Richard Lauder, Laird of Haltoun

A Laird is a hereditary title for the owner of a landed estate in Scotland. Hereditary titles, in a general sense are Titles positions or styles that are Hereditary and thus tend or are bound to remain in particular families Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. 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. Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed A Lord of Parliament is a member of the lowest rank of Scottish Peerage, ranking below a Viscount. This article is about the pre-1707 parliament The article on the devolved legislative body established in 1999 is at Scottish Parliament. The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords"

Though traditionally translated as "Lord", Laird is not a title of nobility. Nobility is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary (see Hereditary titles) or for a lifetime Unlike Lord of the Manor titles, the title of laird is a 'corporeal heriditament' (an inheritable property that has an explicit tie to the physical land), i. The title of Lord of the Manor arose in the English mediaeval system of Manorialism following the Norman Conquest. e. the title can not be held in gross, and can not be bought and sold without selling the physical land. An office not being held by Serjeanty, or attached to some particular office or title is said to be in gross. Though the title Laird is not gender specific, in more recent times some female Lairds have opted to use the title Lady instead. A Lady is a Woman who is the counterpart of a Lord, as opposed to lady, the counterpart of a Gentleman.

Addressing a Laird

1. Laird [Personal name] of [Lairdship] or
2. Lady [Personal name] of [Lairdship]

A definite article is not used and the "of" must be retained to distinguish from titles of the nobility. Nobility is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary (see Hereditary titles) or for a lifetime In some cases Laird is translated as Lord but this can cause confusion.

See also

• Forms of address in the United Kingdom