Register vs. Roll
Two records, two jobs
The Scottish Barony Register and the Roll of Scottish Barons are complementary, not competing. Here is what each one is, what it records, and how they fit together.
The Scottish Barony Register (SBR) is a private register of legal transfers, established in 2004 by members of the Scottish legal profession, under a Custodian whose certification the Lord Lyon accepts as evidence of title. We recognise it as an authoritative source, and recommend that every holder of a Scottish barony record their legal title there. The Roll is complementary to the SBR, not in competition with it: The Roll also documents the wider historic baronage — dignities held by dynastic succession, by chiefs, baronets and peers — for which the records of the Lyon Office stand as primary evidence. Set side by side, the two serve different jobs:
| Comparison point | Scottish Barony Register (SBR) | The Roll of Scottish Barons |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A private register of legal transfers, established in 2004 by members of the Scottish legal profession, under a Custodian | The open-source verification roll of the Baronage of Scotland, maintained by the Association |
| Official status | Non-statutory; not an official register. The Custodian’s certification is accepted by the Lord Lyon as evidence of title | Non-statutory; not an official register. Bears on recognition only, never on legal title |
| What it records | Transfers of baronies since 28 November 2004, as voluntarily submitted | Aggregator of all Baronage of Scotland titles — including those held by dynastic succession, chiefs, baronets and peers, which appear in no register of transfers |
| What an entry shows | That a legal assignation was recorded | That the dignity and its holder have been verified against open-sourced evidence |
| Evidence | The assignation submitted for recording | Lyon Court instruments, SBR certification, government gazette citations (Lyon Court), original documents — published with each entry |
| Unverified titles | Not its function: the SBR records transfers; it neither recognises nor declines to recognise a title | Not recognised. Under the Roll’s published rules, listed barons and cooperating organisations agree not to recognise unverified titles |
| The Pledge | — | Holders may pledge their barony upon the Roll: The Pledge preserves it within the family line as a pledged hereditary title, bound by the Baronial Code of Honour — a compact in honour, not law |
| Cost | A recording fee, set by the SBR | Free, for life — nobody pays to be listed |
| Kept by | The Custodian, a retired solicitor and Writer to His Majesty’s Signet, supported by a board of directors | Maintained under the oversight of the Association’s supporters and Governing Council, whose members are published by name, with their records |
| In a phrase | Records legal title | Recognises the title |
What it is
Scottish Barony Register (SBR)
A private register of legal transfers, established in 2004 by members of the Scottish legal profession, under a Custodian
The Roll of Scottish Barons
The open-source verification roll of the Baronage of Scotland, maintained by the Association
Official status
Scottish Barony Register (SBR)
Non-statutory; not an official register. The Custodian’s certification is accepted by the Lord Lyon as evidence of title
The Roll of Scottish Barons
Non-statutory; not an official register. Bears on recognition only, never on legal title
What it records
Scottish Barony Register (SBR)
Transfers of baronies since 28 November 2004, as voluntarily submitted
The Roll of Scottish Barons
Aggregator of all Baronage of Scotland titles — including those held by dynastic succession, chiefs, baronets and peers, which appear in no register of transfers
What an entry shows
Scottish Barony Register (SBR)
That a legal assignation was recorded
The Roll of Scottish Barons
That the dignity and its holder have been verified against open-sourced evidence
Evidence
Scottish Barony Register (SBR)
The assignation submitted for recording
The Roll of Scottish Barons
Lyon Court instruments, SBR certification, government gazette citations (Lyon Court), original documents — published with each entry
Unverified titles
Scottish Barony Register (SBR)
Not its function: the SBR records transfers; it neither recognises nor declines to recognise a title
The Roll of Scottish Barons
Not recognised. Under the Roll’s published rules, listed barons and cooperating organisations agree not to recognise unverified titles
The Pledge
Scottish Barony Register (SBR)
—
The Roll of Scottish Barons
Holders may pledge their barony upon the Roll: The Pledge preserves it within the family line as a pledged hereditary title, bound by the Baronial Code of Honour — a compact in honour, not law
Cost
Scottish Barony Register (SBR)
A recording fee, set by the SBR
The Roll of Scottish Barons
Free, for life — nobody pays to be listed
Kept by
Scottish Barony Register (SBR)
The Custodian, a retired solicitor and Writer to His Majesty’s Signet, supported by a board of directors
The Roll of Scottish Barons
Maintained under the oversight of the Association’s supporters and Governing Council, whose members are published by name, with their records
In a phrase
Scottish Barony Register (SBR)
Records legal title
The Roll of Scottish Barons
Recognises the title
The Roll treats the SBR as an authoritative source and recommends every holder record their legal title there. The SBR records legal title; the Roll documents recognition across the whole baronage. Complementary, not competing.