Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earldom of Strathmore and Kinghorne |
|
|---|---|
 
Quarterly: 1st and 4th, Argent a Lion rampant Azure armed and langued Gules within a Double Tressure flory counterflory of the second (for Lyon); 3rd and 4th, Ermine three Bows strings palewise proper (for Bowes); as a Royal Augmentation, granted to the holder of the Earldom only, an Inescutcheon en surtout Azure thereon a Rose Argent barbed Vert seeded Or ensigned with an Imperial Crown proper within a Double Tressure flory counterflory of the second, the said Inescutcheon ensigned with an Earl's Coronet proper.
|
|
| Creation date | 1606 (Scottish title) 1937 (British title) |
| Peerage | Peerage of Scotland (1606) Peerage of the United Kingdom (1937) |
| First holder | Patrick Lyon, 1st Earl of Kinghorne |
| Present holder | Simon Bowes-Lyon, 19th and 6th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne |
| Heir presumptive | The Hon. John Fergus Bowes-Lyon |
| Subsidiary titles | Viscount Lyon Lord Lyon and Glamis Lord Glamis Lord Glamis, Tannadyce, Sidlaw and Strathdichtie Baron Bowes |
| Seat(s) | Glamis Castle |
| Former seat(s) | Gibside Streatlam Castle St Paul's Walden Bury |
| Motto | In Te Domine Speravi ("In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust") |
The Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne is a special title in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of the United Kingdom. A "peerage" is a system of titles for nobles, like dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, and barons. These titles are often passed down through families.
This earldom was first created in 1606. It was called the Earl of Kinghorne back then. The first person to hold this title was Patrick Lyon. Later, in 1677, the name of the earldom changed to "Strathmore and Kinghorne".
Much later, in 1937, a second earldom was given to the 14th Earl. This new title was in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Because of this, he was known as the 14th and 1st Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. This means he was the 14th Earl in the Scottish line and the 1st in the new UK line.
Contents
What Other Titles Does the Earl Hold?
Besides the main earldoms, the Earl also holds several other important titles. These are called "subsidiary titles". They include:
- Viscount Lyon (created in 1677)
- Lord Glamis, Tannadyce, Sidlaw and Strathdichtie (1677)
- Lord Lyon and Glamis (1606)
- Lord Glamis (1445)
- Baron Bowes (1887)
The first three titles are part of the Scottish peerage. The last two are part of the United Kingdom peerage.
The oldest son of the Earl uses the title Lord Glamis. This is a "courtesy title", meaning it's used out of tradition, even though he doesn't officially hold the peerage yet. Usually, the highest subsidiary title (Viscount Lyon) would be used. However, "Lord Glamis" is used to avoid confusion with another important official called the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
The Earl is also the Chief of Clan Lyon. This means he is the traditional leader of the Lyon family clan in Scotland.
Famous Family Connections
A very famous member of this family was Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900–2002). She was the daughter of the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. This also made her the sister of the 15th Earl. She was also the mother of Queen Elizabeth II.
Family Homes
The main family home is Glamis Castle. It is located in Angus, Scotland. This historic castle has been the family's seat for a very long time.
Other places where the family used to live include Gibside, near Burnopfield, and Streatlam Castle, near Barnard Castle. Both of these are in County Durham, England.
The Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne are traditionally buried in a special part of the Glamis parish church.
A Look into the Family's History
The Clan Lyon family has a long and interesting history. Some stories say the family came from France, with the original name de Leonne. However, some historians believe they might have come from a Celtic background.
The earliest known lands owned by the family were in a Celtic area. Also, family leaders held important government jobs that would have needed them to speak Gaelic. This suggests a strong connection to Scotland's Celtic past.
The First Important Lyon
The first family member we know much about was John Lyon, Lord of Glamis. He was a courtier, someone who attended the royal court, and a diplomat. In 1371, he was given the job of Keeper of the Privy Seal by King Robert II. This was a very important role in the Scottish government.
John Lyon gained a lot of land. On March 18, 1372, King Robert II officially gave him "the free barony of Glamuyss". This meant he was the lord of the Glamis area. Ever since then, Glamis has been the main home of the family.
How the Titles Developed
The family's titles changed over time:
- Thanes of Glamis (from 1372): The first known holder was John Lyon, 1st Thane of Glamis (died 1382). A "thane" was a local lord in early Scotland.
- Lords of Glamis (from 1445): The title changed to "Lord Glamis". Patrick Lyon, 1st Lord Glamis (died 1459) was the first to hold this title.
- Earls of Kinghorne (from 1606): The title was raised to an earldom. Patrick Lyon, 1st Earl of Kinghorne (c. 1575–1615) was the first Earl.
- Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne (from 1677): The name of the earldom changed to include "Strathmore". Patrick Lyon, 3rd Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (1643–1695) was the first to hold this combined title.
Recent Earls
The current Earl is Simon Patrick Bowes-Lyon. He was born in 1986. He is the 19th Earl in the Scottish line and the 6th in the UK line.
His younger brother, The Hon. John Fergus Bowes-Lyon (born 1988), is the next in line to inherit the title. This means he is the "heir presumptive".
See also
- Bowes-Lyon family
- Clan Lyon
- records of the County Durham estates are held by Durham County Record Office
Images for kids
-
The Coat of Arms of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. The family motto is "In Thee, O Lord, I have put my trust."
