Question:
Can I become a lord?
anonymous
2016-08-05 16:42:04 UTC
A few of my friends are arguing over royal titles. If someone ( who has no connection to the royal family ) bought a castle in the highlands would they be considered a lord of the land? I'm talking legitimately, not any of those 'become a lord for free' advertisements.
Nine answers:
anonymous
2016-08-06 01:20:10 UTC
Only the Queen can make you a lord: but you probably knew that already.



The confusion arises because in Scotland the owner of a large estate including typically a 'Big House' - not a castle - some tenant farms (having tenants to touch their caps to you is important) and the surrounding countryside, is traditionally known as 'laird' of that estate. A laird is not a lord: but the words have the same origin, and the scam merchants, of which there are many, have exploited this fact to the full.



So you can become a laird by buying property, yes. If you bought the whole estate of Ballantrae, including its Big House, grouse moors, and tenant farms you would be the Laird of Ballantrae, no question. You would be entitled to call yourself on your letterhead 'John Smith of Ballantrae', which would tip off everyone that you were a substantial landowner. But a laird is still a plain Mr, not Lord.



Also, if anybody else owned any part of Ballantrae, you could not call yourself Laird of it. But the scam merchants pretend that by buying a metre-square patch of land in eg. Glencoe you (and a thousand other people) gain the right to call yourself 'Laird of Glencoe' which is nonsensical. They hint further that as the words 'laird' and 'lord' have a common origin you can reasonably call yourself 'Lord' if you want, which is totally untrue.



Edited to add: a few days ago The Lord Lyon, the heraldic authority of Scotland, tired of having duped Americans apply for a cost of arms on the grounds that they are 'Scottish lairds', put out a press release spelling out the invalidity of the whole thing. Check out the link, and note that the scammers could only say feebly in their defence that Scottish law allows anyone to call themselves whatever they like...
?
2016-08-05 19:30:30 UTC
The only way to be become a Lord is through inheritance or by having said titled bestowed upon by The Queen. There is no other way to do it, and anyone who says otherwise is a charlatan and a fraud and should be reported to the authorities immediately.
anonymous
2016-08-06 04:41:05 UTC
If Scott Disick can do it, anyone can. I'm just kidding. It wouldn't matter what house or lands you bought where, it would not confer you any title or nobility. The only way you're getting any kind of title is if you marry into it or get so dubbed by Her Majesty the Queen.
anonymous
2016-08-06 05:03:23 UTC
no, and why would you. its all meaningless rubbish. if you want respect, volunteer, make charitable donations etc. my opinion of lords is that the are all eighty, drunk and don't even turn up to the house of lords, like EVER. there is no point in them, they should be gone.
Verulam 1
2016-08-06 01:53:26 UTC
If you buy property that comes with a title, yes, in some cases.



But here's more info. much as it may not be up to date.

http://www.elitetitles.co.uk/how-to-become-a-lord.html
anonymous
2016-08-05 19:12:38 UTC
Make a large donation to whichever political party is in power.



@Pooch, no, you can't inherit a peerage any more.
?
2016-08-05 16:43:45 UTC
Yes. You need to get yourself on the honours list for a peerage.
Cath.Ian
2016-08-05 22:44:17 UTC
What is the colour of your tongue?
anonymous
2016-08-05 17:04:45 UTC
No, they would not.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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