The Peerage
The peerage of Scotland consists of those individuals awarded titles of nobility dating from before the Union of 1707 and inherited as defined in the grant of nobility by sons (and in some cases daughters as well). The peerage of Scotland was closed in 1707, and there are not such titles conferred after that date. Those with titles dating from 1707 are in the peerage of the United Kingdom. The first or basic title is baron, followed by viscount, earl, marquis, and duke, with each rank holding all lesser titles as well. Thus a duke is also a marquis, an earl, a viscount, and a baron. Jacobite titles were conferred by the exiled Stuarts after 1688 and are not recognized in either the Scottish or the British peerage.
