Their Fake Claims
The claims of the various peddlers of fake Scottish titles may vary slightly, as do their prices, but, broadly speaking, they are generally similar. For demonstration purposes we have selected one of the more longstanding ones, ‘Highland Titles’.
Become the Laird, Lord or Lady of Glencoe, etc.
The purchase of land in Scotland is not sufficient, per se, to qualify anyone to legally use the title of Laird. The title ‘Lord’ is a ‘Peerage title’ (or a courtsy title of a Scottish ‘Law Lord’) and although it is true to say that the word Laird does derive from Lavert, which is the same root as the word Lord, a genuinely recognised Laird, is a member of the Nobilitas Minora, whereas those who are legally entitled to call themselves Lord, belong to the Nobilitas Majora, or the Peerage. The two terms are certainly not interchangeable.
A Lairdship is, in itself, a title which is linked to the Land, but for it to become a title and part of the name of the individual who owns the land, it is necessary to petition Scotland’s supreme herald, the Lord Lyon King of Arms, for the title to be officially recognised. The Lord Lyon does not actually recognise anyone as a Laird. Rather, he recognises their right to a territorial designation. For example, if someone buys a Scottish estate which for many years has been known as Glensmith, and if this meets the land criteria stipulated by the Lord Lyon (in terms of acreage), on petitioning for a Grant of Arms in that name (or for a change of name certificate if he already has Arms) he will be recognised as “John Smith of Glensmith”. He is also entitled to call himself “The Laird of Glensmith”. It is impossible to have numerous “Lairds” of a single Estate at the same time, as has been advertised by these companies. It should also be pointed out that an area of between one and one thousand square feet does not constitute a legitimate “Estate”! If simply being a landowner in Scotland made you a Laird, Lord or Lady then every owner of a house, garden plot or window box would be one….how ridiculous!!
http://www.scots-titles.com/fake-lairds-lords
