The chapeau (or cap of maintenance) represents Scot barons in historical heraldry instead of a coronet
The Ancient Nobility of the Baronage of Scotland
Baronial Rank of Nobility[1] Baron (1st degree) 90% are barons Lord (2nd degree) very rare Earl (3rd degree) very rare Marquis (4th degree) only 1 Duke (5th degree) only 1
Titled nobles in the Baronage List of – Barons / Baronesses or Ladies Lords Earls / Countesses Marquis & Duke
Topics Lords of Regality The Much Honoured Nobility Noblesse Clan chief and chieftain Laird Younger (title) Maid (title) List of family seats of Scottish nobility Scottish Barony Register Forms of address Territorial designation Lord Lyon Baronage Family seat Order of precedence in Scotland
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The Scottish Noblesse is a class of aristocracy in Scotland, including both those with peerage titles as well as those without. The concept of this distinct Scottish noble class was prominently advocated for by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney during his tenure as Carrick Pursuivant of Arms and later Lord Lyon King of Arms.

The concept of noblesse as opposed to "nobility" is old: in 1901 a Canadian heraldist Edward Marion Chadwick discussed the difference between the two in France: "pairie" is similar to English peerage, while noblesse consists of gentlemen commoners. "The King ... was the fountain of hereditary title, but not the fountain of noblesse", and noblesse can be obtained without any royal act.^[2]

In 2008, the 'noblesse' clause was discreetly removed from newly issued letters patent.^[3] Consequently, the creation of new nobles becomes impossible. Nevertheless, armigers who were already granted coats of arms prior to the deadline may retain the style (the patents used to state that "he and his successors in the same are, amongst all Nobles and in all Places of Honour, to be taken, numbered, accounted and received as Nobles in the Noblesse of Scotland"^[4]).

In the early 20th century, Innes of Learney put forth the belief that individuals granted arms by the Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland effectively become 'Nobles in the Noblesse of Scotland'.^[5] This form of hereditary nobility is mostly based on Innes' interpretation of historical precedents and practices:

A patent of arms is − and I say this with full official weight − a Diploma of Nobility

— Thomas Innes of Learney, Scots Heraldry^[6]

Innes drew on historical English heraldic traditions, arguing that just as other officers of the Crown had been delegated the power to ennoble individuals in the past, the Lord Lyon should also hold the authority to do so through the granting of coat of arms.^[7][8][9] However, Innes' position was complicated by the fact that he simultaneously opposed the direct application of English heraldic law and practice to the Scottish context.

The soundness of the basis for Innes' belief that Scottish armigers, by virtue of being granted arms, automatically attain a status of hereditary nobility has been a subject of uncertainty and debate among historians and heraldic scholars. Innes relied heavily on documenting historical English precedents to support his claims despite the fact that he sought to differentiate the Scottish heraldic system from that of England.^[10]

• Peerage of Scotland
• Baronage of Scotland
• Laird

• Innes of Learney, Thomas (1971). Scots Heraldry: A Practical Handbook on the Historical Principles and Modern Application of the Art and Science. Genealogical Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-8063-0478-6. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
• Chadwick, Edward Marion (1901). "The Armiger". Archaeological Journal. 58 (1): 305–321. doi:10.1080/00665983.1901.10852885. ISSN 0066-5983.
• Cox, Noel (1998). "The Law of Arms in New Zealand" (PDF). New Zealand Universities Law Review. 18. SSRN 420753.