Laird is a generic name for the owner of a Scottish estate, roughly equivalent to an
esquire in England, yet ranking above the same in Scotland. In the Scottish order of precedence, a laird ranks below a
baron and above a gentleman. This rank is only held by those lairds holding official recognition in a
territorial designation by the
Lord Lyon King of Arms. They are usually styled [
forename] [
surname] of [
lairdship], and are traditionally entitled to place
The Much Honoured before their name.