Scotland - Name Field Guidelines

Profile managers: Amy Gilpin [send private message] and Scotland Project WikiTree [send private message]

This is the Official Name Field Standards for the Scotland Project

Lairds, Tacksmen and Clan Chiefs

Prefix: None

First Name: First Name at Birth

Preferred Name: This is the name they are known by or were known to use for themselves.

Last Name At Birth: The LNAB will be the surname at birth.

Current Last Name: The CLN will be the territorial designation with his or her number designated by a Roman numeral. This represents his/her place in the succession of Lairds, Tacksmen or Clan Chiefs.

Suffix: None

See Example 1 and 2, below.

Example 1

John Mackenzie 1st Laird of Gruinard (MacKenzie-4677) has first name “John”, LNAB “MacKenzie” and CLN “Mackenzie Ist of Gruinard”. Using the Roman Letter “I” for the number “1” which would otherwise create an error message and although the policy is to register “Mac” surnames with a capital letter, the Mackenzie family spells its name Mackenzie not MacKenzie .

Example 2

Robert Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis and 17th Chief of Clan Munro (Munro-210) has first name “Robert”, preferred name “Robert Mor” because that is how he was known, LNAB “Munro” and CLN “Munro XVIIth of Foulis” because it is place in the list of Chiefs which matters most. Later on his descendants secured a Baronetcy and for those chiefs, it is the layout for a Baronet which will apply. In recent generations the Baronetcy and Chief of the Clan have separated so once more it is the numerical place in the list of Chiefs which matters most.

Baronets

Prefix: Sir, Rev, Capt., etc.

First Name: First Name at Birth

Preferred Name: This is the name they are known by or were known to use for themselves.

Last Name At Birth: The LNAB will be the surname the individual had at birth.

Current Last Name: The CLN will be the name of the Baronetcy.

Suffix: The suffix box will be used to display the holder’s position

See Example 3, below :

Example 3

Sir John Sinclair, 6th Baronet of Canisbay and 8th Laird of Mey (Sinclair-4252) has the prefix “Sir”, first name “John”, LNAB “Sinclair”, CLN “Sinclair of Canisbay” and suffix “6th Bt”. The fact that he is also the 8th Laird of Mey is noted in his biography.

Peers and other Nobles

Prefix: Sir, Rev, Capt., etc.

First Name: First Name at Birth

Preferred Name: This is the name they are known by or were known to use for themselves.

Last Name At Birth: The LNAB will be the surname the individual had at birth. NOTE: Peers are known by and addressed using their most senior title not the family surname.

Current Last Name: The CLN will be the LNAB and his/her most senior title written entirely as words.

See Example 4, below:

Example 4

Captain James Sutherland, 5th Lord Duffus (Sutherland-1206) has the prefix “Capt.”, first name “James”, LNAB “Sutherland” and CLN “Sutherland Fifth Lord Duffus”.

Senior Clergy and Others

NOTE: As Scotland’s principal religion does not have elevated ranks within its clergy, there are few profiles this affects. However both the Roman Catholic and Scottish Episcopal churches have bishops, archbishops and cardinals.

Prefix: Rev, Cardinal, Bishop, etc

First Name: First Name at Birth

Preferred Name: This is the name they are known by or were known to use for themselves.

Last Name At Birth: The LNAB will be the surname the individual had at birth.

Current Last Name: The CLN will be the LNAB and his/her most senior title written entirely as words.

Example 5

David Bethune (Bethune-14) rose to become Archbishop of St. Andrews and a Cardinal. He was known as David Beaton. He has the prefix “Cardinal” first name “David”, LNAB “Bethune” and CLN “Beaton Archbishop of St Andrews”.

Married women, especially if from a noble family

This has long been a bone of contention and for the purposes of nobility, except where it is shown a married woman chose to be known by her husband’s family surname, she will keep her own surname because that generally was what was done. However married women in the nobility tended to be known by their husband’s title. If a Peer, she was simply the female version of his rank of peer e.g. Earl’s wife was a Countess. If her husband was a Baronet, she would generally be styled “Lady” followed by her husband’s title not family name. If she was a Baronetess in her own right, she would not be styled “Lady” but more often “Dame” or “Madam” followed by her title. If her husband was a Scot’s Baron or even a Tacksman, she would generally be known as “Lady” followed by the name of his estate.

Prefix: Lady

First Name: First Name at Birth

Preferred Name: This is the name they are known by or were known to use for themselves.

Last Name At Birth: The LNAB is the surname she was born with.

Current Last Name: The CLN includes both her LNAB and her husband's title.

Suffix: If applicable, represents her position.

Examples 6

Margaret Sutherland of Kinminitie (Sutherland-3463) was the daughter of James Sutherland, 1st Laird of Kinminitie. She went on to marry James Irvine, 3rd Laird of Artamford. After her marriage, as she also came from a noble family she was not referred to as “Margaret Irvine”. She continued to be known as Margaret Sutherland. However she was addressed as “Lady Artamford” as was typical of the time. She took her husband’s Baronial title. In a family feud with her nephew, in the Court of Session papers she is referred to as “Margaret Sutherland, Lady Artamford “ or “Margaret, Lady Artamford”. So for her profile she has first and preferred name “Margaret”, LNAB “Sutherland”, CLN “Sutherland Lady Artamford”. If you do a plain search for “Margaret Sutherland” and then click earliest date you find her quite easily.

Document History

• The finalized draft received official inclusion on the Name Field Help Page on 17 Nov 2020. Amy Gilpin
• The finalized draft has been submitted for inclusion on the Name Field Help Page. Amy Gilpin, 1 Aug 2020
• This Draft is in process for the Scotland Project. Amy Gilpin 22:33, 1 August 2020 (UTC)

Original discussion: https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1064138/proposal-scotland-project-naming-policy-lairds-aristocrats?show=1064138