Earl of Arran (Scotland)

James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran

Earl of Arran is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It is not to be confused with the title Earl of Arran in the Peerage of Ireland. The two titles refer to different places: the Isle of Arran in Scotland, and the Aran Islands in Ireland. The Scottish earldom is a subsidiary title of the Duke of Hamilton, whereas the Irish earldom is a separate title held by the Gore family.

Scottish creations

Feudal Earldom of Arran

Arms of feudal Earls of Arran: Argent, a lymphad with the sails furled proper flagged gules.

The feudal Earldom of Arran supposedly had its caput at Lochranza Castle. The arms of the feudal Earl of Arran are: Argent, a lymphad with the sails furled proper flagged gules. These are quartered today with the arms of Hamilton (Gules, three cinquefoils ermine) by the Duke of Hamilton. In a similar fashion the arms of the feudal Earldom of Orkney are quartered by the present Earl of Caithness, the arms of the feudal Barony (or Earldom) of Lorne are now quartered by the Duke of Argyll, and the arms of the feudal Lord of the Isles are quartered with Clan Stewart by the Duke of Rothesay, all in the form of Lymphads.

In 1997 Willi Ernst Sturzenegger, a Swiss millionaire and owner of the ruined Lochranza Castle, petitioned the Lord Lyon King of Arms to be recognised officially "in the name, style and dignity of Willi Ernst Sturzenegger of Arran, Earl of Arran in the territorial baronage of Scotland", and for a Grant of Arms with additaments appropriate to him as "Earl of Arran in the territorial baronage of Scotland", on the basis that he had been "infeft" (i.e. enfeoffed) in 1995 in "ALL and WHOLE the Lands and Earldom of Arran in the County of Bute including inter alia the Castle of Lochranza the caput thereof …". In 2006 he further petitioned the Lord Lyon King of Arms for official recognition "in the name, style and dignity of Willi Ernst Sturzenegger of Arran, Feudal Earl of Arran" with appropriate heraldic additaments. This was denied by the Lord Lyon in his 2009 ruling.

Peerage title

Arms of the Duke of Hamilton, one of whose subsidiary titles is Earl of Arran, showing quarterly 1st and 4th: Hamilton (Gules, three cinquefoils ermine) quartering Arran; 2nd and 3rd: Douglas

James Hamilton, 4th Earl of Arran

The title was first created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1467 for Thomas Boyd, who was later attainted for treason. The next creation was in 1503 for James Hamilton, 2nd Lord Hamilton. His grandson was declared insane in 1562 and the title passed to the king's favourite Captain James Stewart in 1581. In 1609, the second Marquess of Hamilton inherited the earldom. In 1643, the third Marquess was made Duke of Hamilton and received a second grant of the earldom of Arran. At the death of the second Duke, the 1503 earldom became dormant (i.e., it was unclaimed), while the 1643 earldom descended along with the dukedom, with which it is still united. For more information on these creations, see the Duke of Hamilton.

Earls of Arran, first creation (1467)

• Thomas Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran (died c. 1472) (forfeit 1469)

Earls of Arran, second and third creations (1503, 1643)

Main article: Duke of Hamilton

Family tree

Douglas-Hamilton Family Trees: Dukes of: Abercorn, Brandon, and Hamilton; Earls of: Abercorn, Arran (Scotland), and Selkirk with subsidiary and courtesy titles

James II 1430–1460 King of Scotland Earl of Arran (Scotland) (1st creation), 1467 Lord Hamilton, 1445 Thomas Boyd d. c. 1473 Earl of Arran Mary Stewart 1453–1488 dowager Countess of Arran James Hamilton c. 1415–1479 1st Lord Hamilton James III 1451–1488 King of Scotland Earldom of Arran (1st creation) forfeit, 1469 Earl of Arran (Scotland) (2nd creation), 1503 James Hamilton c. 1475–1529 2nd Lord Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran James IV 1473–1513 King of Scotland Catherine Stewart (illegit.) c. 1495–1554 James Douglas d. 1548 Earl of Morton Duke of Châtellerault (France) (5th creation), 1548 James Hamilton c. 1516–1575 2nd Earl of Arran, 3rd Lord Hamilton, 1st Duke of Châtellerault Margaret Douglas c. 1510–1579 Dukedom of Châtellerault (5th creation) forfeit, 1559 Marquess of Hamilton, Earl of Arran, and Lord Aven, 1599 Lord Paisley, 1587 James Hamilton c. 1533–1609 3rd Earl of Arran, 4th Lord Hamilton Anne Hamilton c. 1535 – c. 1574 m. George Gordon Earl of Huntly John Hamilton 1540–1604 1st Marquess of Hamilton Claud Hamilton 1546–1621 1st Lord Paisley Earl of Cambridge (England) (4th creation) and Baron of Innerdale, 1619 Lord Abercorn, 1603 Earl of Abercorn, 1606 Earls of Angus George Gordon 1562–1636 Marquess of Huntly James Hamilton 1589–1625 2nd Marquess of Hamilton, 4th Earl of Arran, 1st Earl of Cambridge and Baron of Innerdale, 5th Lord Hamilton, Lord Aberbrothwick/Arbroath James Hamilton 1575–1618 1st Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge (Scotland) and Baron of Aven and Innerdale, 1643 Earl of Lanark, 1639 Baron Hamilton of Strabane, 1617 William Douglas 1589–1660 Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus, Lord Abernethy, Lord Bonkyll and Preston, Lord Jedburgh Forest Mary Gordon c. 1600–1674 James Hamilton 1606–1649 1st Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 3rd Marquess of Hamilton, 5th Earl of Arran, 2nd Earl of Cambridge and Baron of Innerdale William Hamilton 1616–1651 2nd Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 1st Earl of Lanark, 6th Earl of Arran, 3rd Earl of Cambridge and Baron of Innerdale James Hamilton c. 1604 – c. 1670 2nd Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 2nd Lord Paisley, 1st Lord Hamilton of Strabane Claud Hamilton c. 1606–1638 2nd Lord Hamilton of Strabane George Hamilton c. 1607–1679 Earldom of Cambridge (4th creation) and Barony of Innerdale extinct and Earldom of Arran (2nd creation) dormant, 1651 Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch, 1646 see Earl of Ormond family tree for Earls of Angus, etc. William Douglas (Hamilton) 1634–1694 suo uxoris Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, suo jure 1st Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch Anne Hamilton 1631–1716 suo jure 3rd Duchess of Hamilton, Marchioness of Clydesdale, Countess of Arran and Cambridge, and Lady Aven and Innerdale, 2nd Countess of Lanark George Hamilton c. 1636 – c. 1680 3rd Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn James Hamilton c. 1633 – c. 1670 Lord Paisley James Hamilton 1633–1655 3rd Lord Hamilton of Strabane George Hamilton c. 1636–1668 4th Lord Hamilton of Strabane James Hamilton c. 1620–1673 Ceded Dukedom of Hamilton to 4th Duke, 1698 Duke of Brandon and Baron Dutton, 1711 Earl of Ruglen, 1697 Earl of Orkney (3rd creation), 1697 Viscount Strabane and Baron Mountcastle, 1701 James Hamilton 1658–1712 4th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 1st Duke of Brandon and Baron Dutton, 3rd Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont Charles Douglas 1663–1739 2nd Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch John Douglas-Hamilton 1664–1744 3rd Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch, 1st Earl of Ruglen George Hamilton 1666–1737 1st Earl of Orkney Basil Hamilton 1671–1701 Catherine Hamilton Charles Hamilton d. 1701 5th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 6th Lord Hamilton of Strabane Claud Hamilton 1658–1691 4th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 5th Lord Hamilton of Strabane James Hamilton c. 1661–1734 6th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 7th Lord Hamilton of Strabane Earls of Ruglen Earls of Orkney Basil Hamilton 1696–1742 James Hamilton 1685–1744 7th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 8th Lord Hamilton of Strabane Viscount Hamilton, 1786 James Hamilton 1703–1743 5th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 2nd Duke of Brandon and Baron Dutton, 4th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont Lord Anne Hamilton 1709–1748 Dunbar Douglas 1722–1799 4th Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch James Hamilton 1712–1789 8th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 9th Lord Hamilton of Strabane John Hamilton 1714–1755 Baron Hamilton of Hameldon county, Leicester, 1776 Marquess of Abercorn, 1790 James Hamilton 1724–1758 6th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 3rd Duke of Brandon and Baron Dutton, 5th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont Elizabeth Gunning (c. 1733–1790) suo jure 1st Baroness Hamilton Archibald Hamilton 1740–1819 9th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 6th Duke of Brandon, Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus, and Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest, 8th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont Charles Powell Hamilton 1747–1825 John Hamilton 1756–1818 9th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 1st Marquess of Abercorn, 10th Lord Hamilton of Strabane James Hamilton 1755–1769 7th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 4th Duke of Brandon and Baron Dutton, Marquess of Angus and Abernethy, Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus, and Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest, 6th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont Douglas Hamilton 1756–1799 8th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 5th Duke of Brandon, Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus, Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest, and Baron Dutton, 7th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont, 2nd Baron Hamilton Alexander Hamilton 1767–1852 10th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 7th Duke of Brandon, Marquess of Douglas, and Baron Dutton, Earl of Angus, and Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest, 9th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont Augustus Barrington Price Anne Powell Douglas-Hamilton 1781–1849 Thomas Douglas 1771–1820 5th Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch James Hamilton 1786–1818 Viscount Hamilton Duke of Abercorn, of Strabane and Duke of Abercorn, 1868 William Alexander Anthony Archibald Hamilton 1811–1863 11th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 8th Duke of Brandon, Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus, Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest, and Baron Dutton10th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont Charles Douglas-Hamilton 1808–1873 Dunbar James Douglas 1809–1885 6th Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch James Hamilton 1811–1885 2nd Marquess of Abercorn, 10th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 1st Duke of Abercorn, 11th Lord Hamilton of Strabane Duke of Châtellerault (France) (5th creation), revived 1548 William Alexander Louis Stephen Douglas-Hamilton 1845–1895 12th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 9th Duke of Brandon, Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus, Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest and Baron Dutton, 2nd Duke of Châtellerault, 8th Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch, 11th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont Charles George Douglas-Hamilton 1847–1886 7th Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch James Hamilton 1838–1913 2nd Duke of Abercorn, 3rd Marquess of Abercorn, 11th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 12th Lord Hamilton of Strabane Alfred Douglas Douglas-Hamilton 1862–1940 13th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 10th Duke of Brandon, Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus (1633 creation), Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest, and Baron Dutton, 20th Earl of Angus (1389 creation), 9th Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch, 12th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont James Albert Edward Hamilton 1869–1953 3rd Duke of Abercorn, 4th Marquess of Abercorn, 12th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 13th Lord Hamilton of Strabane Douglas Douglas-Hamilton 1903–1973 14th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 11th Duke of Brandon, Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus (1633 creation), Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest, and Baron Dutton, 21st Earl of Angus (1389 creation), 13rd Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont George Nigel Douglas-Hamilton 1906–1994 10th Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch, 10th Lord Daer and Shortcleuch Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton 1909–1964 James Edward Hamilton 1904–1979 4th Duke of Abercorn, 5th Marquess of Abercorn, 13th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 14th Lord Hamilton of Strabane Baron Selkirk of Douglas, 1997 Angus Douglas-Hamilton 1938–2010 15th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 12th Duke of Brandon, Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus (1633 creation), Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest, and Baron Dutton, 22nd Earl of Angus (1389 creation), 14th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machansyre and Polmont James Alexander Douglas-Hamilton 1942–2023 11th Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch, Earldom disclaimed, 1994, Baron Selkirk of Douglas Alasdair Douglas-Hamilton b. 1939 James Hamilton b. 1934 5th Duke of Abercorn, 6th Marquess of Abercorn, 14th Earl of Abercorn and Lord Abercorn, 15th Lord Hamilton of Strabane Barony Selkirk of Douglas expired as a life peerage, 2023 Alexander Douglas-Hamilton b. 1978 16th Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge, and Lord Aven and Innerdale, 13th Duke of Brandon, Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus (1633 creation), Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest, and Baron Dutton, 23rd Earl of Angus (1389 creation), 15th Earl of Lanark and Lord Machanshyre and Polmont John William Douglas-Hamilton b. 1979 John Andrew Douglas-Hamilton b. 1978 12th Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch Charles Douglas Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1979) Angus Gavin Douglas-Hamilton b. 1968 James Hamilton b. 1969 styled Marquess of Hamilton Heir presumptive to the Earldom of Selkirk Douglas Douglas-Hamilton b. 2012 styled Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale William Frederick Douglas-Hamilton b. 2014 Basil George Douglas-Hamilton b. 2016 William Douglas-Hamilton b. 1999 James Hamilton b. 2005 styled Viscount Strabane Heir apparent to the dukedoms of Hamilton and Brandon

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages