Marquess of Lothian

Marquessate of Lothian
Arms: Quarterly: 1st & 4th, Azure, a Sun-in-Splendour proper (Lothian, as a coat of augmentation); 2nd & 3rd, Gules, on a Chevron Argent, three Mullets Gules (Kerr of Jedburgh). Crests: 1st, A Sun-in-Splendour proper (Lothian); 2nd, A Stag's Head cabossed Argent (Kerr of Jedburgh). Supporters: Dexter: An Angel proper, vested Azure, surcoated Vert, winged and crined Or; Sinister: A Unicorn Argent, armed crined and unguled Or, gorged with a Collar Gules, charged with three Mullets Argent.
Creation date23 June 1701
Created byWilliam III & II
PeeragePeerage of Scotland
First holderRobert Kerr, 4th Earl of Lothian
Present holderMichael Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian
Heir presumptiveLord Ralph Kerr
Remainder toHeirs male whatsoever
Subsidiary titlesEarl of Lothian
Earl of Ancram (1633)
Earl of Ancram (1701)
Viscount of Briene
Lord Newbattle
Lord Jedburgh
Lord Kerr of Newbattle
Lord Kerr of Nisbet, Langnewtoun, and Dolphinstoun
Baron Ker (Peerage of the United Kingdom)
StatusExtant
Seat(s)Ferniehirst Castle
Former seat(s)Newbattle Abbey
Blickling Hall
MottoSERO SED SERIO
(Late, but in earnest)

Marquess of Lothian is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, which was created in 1701 for Robert Kerr, 4th Earl of Lothian. The Marquess of Lothian holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Lothian (created 1606), Earl of Lothian (created again 1631), Earl of Ancram (1633), Earl of Ancram (created again 1701), Viscount of Briene (1701), Lord Newbattle (1591), Lord Jedburgh (1622), Lord Kerr of Newbattle (1631), Lord Kerr of Nisbet, Langnewtoun, and Dolphinstoun (1633), Lord Kerr of Newbattle, Oxnam, Jedburgh, Dolphinstoun and Nisbet (1701), and Baron Ker, of Kersheugh in the County of Roxburgh (1821), all but the last in the Peerage of Scotland. As The Lord Ker in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, previous marquesses sat in the House of Lords before 1963, when Scottish peers first sat in the House of Lords in their own right. The holder of the marquessate is also the Chief of Clan Kerr.

The current Marquess of Lothian, the 13th, is better known as the Conservative politician Michael Ancram. In November 2010, he received a life peerage as Baron Kerr of Monteviot and so became entitled to sit in the House of Lords. He lives at Monteviot House in Roxburghshire. The family previously owned a larger Scottish seat, Newbattle Abbey in Midlothian, which is now a college, and also Blickling Hall in Norfolk, which now belongs to the National Trust.

The heir presumptive to the marquessate is the 13th Marquess' younger brother Lord Ralph Kerr, who owns Ferniehirst Castle in Roxburghshire, which is the family seat that was restored by the 12th Marquess, and Melbourne Hall in Derbyshire.

History of the titles

Clan Kerr has several branches. The name "Kerr," from the Old Norse "kjrr" meaning "marsh-dweller," arrived in Scotland from Normandy. In Scotland it was rendered Kerr, Ker, Carr and Carre, with a Scottish variant on the west coast taken from the Gaelic "ciar," meaning dusky.[1] According to the lore of the family of Mark Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian, the name comes from the Norman chiefs, Ralph and Robert, both brothers who came to Roxburgh from Lancashire[1] in the 1300s.[2]

The Kerrs of Ferniehurst claim descent from Ralph, and the Kerrs of Cessford claimed they are descended from Robert.[1] These two man branches of Clan Kerr were often at odds with one another, fighting until they came together in the early 1500s.[1] The Kerrs subsequently also warred with the Scott Clan, until the feud ended when Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehurst married Janet Scott. In a 1591 charter, Mark Kerr had his lands at Newbattle and Prestongrange erected into the barony of Newbattle.[1]

1st title

Mark Kerr was created Lord Newbattle in 1591 and Earl of Lothian in 1606, both with remainder to his heirs male.[3] The title went to the eldest of his four sons, Robert Kerr, 2nd Earl of Lothian.[2] In 1621 both titles were surrendered by the 2nd Earl and regranted with a special remainder to his daughters, the eldest of whom, Lady Anne Kerr, succeeded to both titles on his death in 1624.[4] Her husband, Sir William Kerr (eldest son of Sir Robert Kerr, later 1st Earl of Ancram) was created Lord Kerr of Newbattle and Earl of Lothian in 1631. On her death in 1667 their eldest son became 4th Earl of Lothian (though he was not recognised as such) and on her husband's death in 1675 also 2nd Earl of Lothian.

2nd title as Marquess

By this point Sir Robert Kerr, father of the 1st Earl of the 2nd creation, had been created Lord Kerr of Nisbet, Langnewtoun and Dolphinstoun and Earl of Ancram, and the titles had been inherited by the 4th and 2nd Earl of Lothian's uncle, Charles Kerr, on whose death in 1690 he became 3rd Earl of Ancram.

He was then created Lord Ker of Newbattle, Oxnam, Jedburgh, Dolphinstoun and Nisbet, Viscount of Briene, Earl of Ancram and Marquess of Lothian in 1701.

The 2nd Marquess succeeded his cousin as Lord Jedburgh before succeeding to the Marquessate, and the 6th Marquess was created Baron Ker, of Kersheugh in the County of Roxburgh, in 1821, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Earls of Lothian; First creation (1606)

Earls of Lothian; Second creation (1631)

Lords Jedburgh (1621/2)

  • Andrew Ker, 1st Lord Jedburgh (died 1633)
  • Alexander Kirkaldy later Ker,[5] de jure 2nd Lord Jedburgh (c. 1590 – c 1650)
  • John Ker, de jure 3rd Lord Jedburgh (died before 1670)
  • Robert Ker, 4th Lord Jedburgh (died 1692)
  • William Ker, 5th Lord Jedburgh (1661-1722); later 2nd Marquess of Lothian (title held by the Marquesses of Lothian from 1703- see below)

Earls of Ancram (1633)

Marquesses of Lothian (1701)

The heir presumptive is the present holder's brother Lord Ralph William Francis Joseph Kerr (born 1957).
The heir presumptive's heir apparent is his son John Walter Donald Peter Kerr (born 1988).

Family tree and succession

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Kerr (Ker) family tree:Marquesses of Lothian 1701, Earls of Lothian 1606, Earls of Lothian 1631, Earls of Ancram 1633, Lords Jedburgh 1621
? Douglas
First Wife		Andrew Kerr
of Altonburn and Cessford		Margaret Tweedle
Second Wife
Walter Kerr
of Cessford
d. 1501		Thomas Ker
1st of Fiernhirst
d. 1484
Robert Kerr
the Younger
d. 1500
Andrew Kerr
of Cessford
d. 1526[temp 1]		Andrew Ker
of Fiernhirst
d. 1545
Mark Kerr
d. 1584		Robert Ker
d. 1588		John Ker
d. 1562
Lord Newbattle, 1591
Earl of Lothian (1st creation), 1606		Lord Ledburgh, 1621
Mark Ker
1st Earl of Lothian (1606)
1553–1609		William Kerr
of Ancram
d. 1590		Andrew Ker
1st Lord Jedburgh
d. c. 1633		William KerJames Ker
of Craling
d. 1645
Earl of Ancram and Lord Kerr of Nisbet, Langnewtoun and Dolphinstoun, 1633
Robert Kerr
2nd Earl of Lothian (1606)
d. 1624		Elizabeth Murray
(First Wife)		Robert Kerr
1st Earl of Ancram
1578–1654[temp 2]		Anne Portman
(Second Wife)		Alexander Ker
de jure 2nd Lord Jedburgh
(c. 1598-c. 1650)
Lordship Newbattle and Earldom of Lothian (1606) surrendered, 1621
Earl of Lothian (1st creation) regranted, 1624Lord Kerr of Newbattle and Earl of Lothian (2nd creation), 1631
Anne Kerr
de jure 3rd Countess of Lothian (1606)
d. 1677[temp 3]		William Kerr
Created 1631
1st Earl of Lothian (1631)
c. 1605–1675		Charles Kerr
2nd Earl of Ancram
1624–1690		John Ker
de jure 3rd Lord Jedburgh
d. c. 1670		Robert Ker
4th Lord Jedburgh
d. c. 1692
Marquess of Lothian, Viscount of Briene, and Lord Ker of Newbattle, Oxnam, Jedburgh, Dolphinstoun and Nisbet, 1701
Robert Kerr
1st Marquess of Lothian, 4th Earl of Lothian (1606), 2nd Earl of Lothian (1631), 3rd Earl of Ancram
1636–1702/3
William Kerr
2nd Marquess of Lothian, 5th Lord Jedburgh
1661–1721/22
William Kerr
3rd Marquess of Lothian
c. 1690–1767
William Henry Kerr
4th Marquess of Lothian
1710–1775
William John Kerr
5th Marquess of Lothian
1737–1815
Baron Ker of Kersehugh in the County of Roxburgh, 1821
William Kerr
6th Marquess of Lothian
1763–1824
John William Robert Kerr
7th Marquess of Lothian
1794–1841
William Schomberg Kerr
8th Marquess of Lothian
1832–1870		Schomberg Henry Kerr
9th Marquess of Lothian
1833–1900		Ralph Drury Kerr
1837–1916		Walter Talbot Kerr
1839–1927
Walter William Schomberg Kerr
Styled
Earl of Ancram
1867–1892		Robert Schomberg Kerr
10th Marquess of Lothian
1874–1930		Philip Henry Kerr
11th Marquess of Lothian
1862–1940		Ralph Francis Kerr
1874–1932		Andrew William Kerr
1877–1929
Peter Francis Walter Kerr
12th Marquess of Lothian
1922–2004
Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr
13th Marquess of Lothian
b. 1945		Ralph William Francis Joseph Kerr
styled Master of Lothian
b. 1957
Heir Presumptive
John Walter Donald Peter Kerr
b. 1988
Heir Apparent to Heir Presumptive		Frederick James Michael Ralph Kerr
b. 1989		Francis Andrew William George Kerr
b. 1991		Hugh Alexander Thomas Joseph Kerr
b. 1999
  1. ^ The 1st Earl of Roxburghe is also a descendant great-grandson of Andrew Kerr of Cessford through his first son, Walter Kerr of Cessford (brother of Mark Kerr).
  2. ^ The creation of the Earldom of Ancram had a special remainder where the title went first to the heirs male of Robert Kerr by his second wife, Anne Portman (nee Stanley), and then to his heirs male general. As a result, his eldest son of his second marriage succeeded to the title upon his death. When the male line of the 1st Earl's second marriage became extinct, the title reverted to the male line of the 1st Earl's first marriage and the 2nd Earl's nephew, later the 1st Marquess of Lothian, succeeded to the title.
  3. ^ There has been some confusion as to whether Anne Kerr actually acceded to the title or whether it reverted to the Crown. The estates of her father did pass to her as she did fulfill the terms of her father's will that she marry a member of the clan Kerr. Her husband was granted a new title of Earl of Lothian. Their son did assume the 1631 creation of the Lothian Earldom, but he never did assume the 1601 creation and titles held by the current Marquess of Lothian do not include the 1601 creation.
Line of succession (simplified)
  • William John Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian (1737-1815)
    • William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian (1763-1824)
      • John William Robert Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian (1794-1841)
        • William Schomberg Robert Kerr, 8th Marquess of Lothian (1832-1870)
        • Schomberg Henry Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian (1833-1900)
          • Robert Schomberg Kerr, 10th Marquess of Lothian (1874-1930)
        • Lord Ralph Drury Kerr (1837-1916)
          • Philip Henry Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian (1882-1940)
        • Lord Walter Talbot Kerr (1839-1927)
          • Andrew William Kerr (1877-1929)
            • Peter Francis Walter Kerr, 12th Marquess of Lothian (1922-2004)
              • Michael Andrew Foster Jude Kerr, 13th Marquess of Lothian (b. 1945)
              • (1) Lord Ralph William Francis Joseph Kerr (b. 1957)
                • (2) John Walter Donald Peter Kerr (b. 1988)
                • (3) Frederic James Michael Ralph Kerr (b1989)
                • (4) Francis Andrew William George Kerr (b. 1991)
                • (5) Hugh Alexander Thomas Joseph Kerr (b. 1999)
            • Lord John Andrew Christopher Kerr (1927-2018)
              • (6) William Walter Raleigh Kerr (b. 1950)
                • (7) Robert John Edward Kerr (b. 1987)
                  • (8) Hugh Cornelius William Kerr (b. 2019)
                  • (9) Rupert Aubrey Michael Kerr (b. 2022)
                • (10) Walter William Kerr (b. 1992)
              • (11) David John Kerr (b. 1952)
                • (12) John Andrew David Kerr (b. 1981)
                • (13) Andrew Christopher Kerr (b. 1984)
              • (14) Andrew Peter Hugh Kerr (b. 1955)
      • Lord Henry Francis Charles Kerr
        • Francis Ernest Kerr
          • Henry Francis Kerr
            • Francis Robert Newsam Kerr (1916-1995)
              • Male issue living
      • Lord Charles Lennox Kerr (1814-1898)
        • Charles Wyndham Rodolph Kerr (1849-1894)
          • Charles Iain Kerr, 1st Baron Teviot (1874-1968)
            • Charles John Kerr, 2nd Baron Teviot (1934-2023)
              • Male issue living
      • Lord Frederic Herbert Kerr (1818-1896)
        • Arthur Herbert Kerr 1862-1930)
          • Mark Peregrine Charles Kerr (1891-1951)
            • Frederic Mark Kerr (1919-2000)
              • Male issue living
    • Lord Mark Robert Kerr (1776-1840)
      • Hugh Seymour McDonnell, 4th Earl of Antrim (1812-1855) [6]
      • Mark McDonnell, 5th Earl of Antrim (1814-1869)
        • William Randal McDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim (1851-1918)
          • Randal Mark Kerr McDonnell, 7th Earl of Antrim (1878-1932)
            • Randal John Somerled McDonnell, 8th Earl of Antrim (1911-1977)
              • Alexander Randal Mark McDonnell, 9th Earl of Antrim (1935-2021)
                • Male issue living
    • Lord Robert Kerr (1780-1843)
      • William Walter Raleigh Kerr (1809-1881)
        • William Walter Raleigh Kerr (1859-1941)
          • Louis William Howard Kerr (1894-1977)
            • Male issue living

The above line of succession represents only those whom are in remainder to the Marquessate of Lothian. There are further collateral branches that provide heirs to other titles separately granted and are currently held by the current Marquess of Lothian.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Scottish clan profile: Kerr". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b "A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the". 1839. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage". Google Books. 1914. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  4. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lothian, Earls and Marquesses of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 18.
  5. ^ Alexander Ker's father, William Kirkaldy (formerly Ker), assumed the surname of Kirkaldy upon assuming the Grange estates of the Kirkaldy family. Alexander Ker re-assumed his father's original surname of Ker upon relinquishing those Grange estates back to the heir male of the Kirkaldy family
  6. ^ The Antrim Earldom was granted, under special remainder to Randal William McDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim and 1st Earl of Antrim with only the Earldom falling under the terms of the special remainder that allowed the succession to the title to pass through the 1st Earl's daughters for lack of male heir. He was succeeded in the Earldom first by his eldest daughter, the 2nd Countess of Antrim, and then his younger daughter, the 3rd Countess of Antrim who was also the wife of Lord Mark Robert Kerr who was, in his own right, in the line of succession to the Marquessate of Lothian. Members of the Antrim line have assumed the matrilineal surname of McDonnell by deed poll.
  • Peerage: L (part 4)[usurped], at Leigh Rayment's Peerage pages
  • Photo and biography of Walter William Schomberg Kerr, Earl of Ancram
  • Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lothian, Earls and Marquesses of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 18.

External links

  • Cracroft's Peerage page
  • "Correspondence of Sir Robert Kerr: First Earl of Ancram, and His Son William, Third Earl of Lothian, Volume 1". Google Books. 1875. Retrieved 19 May 2019.