Younger (title)


Younger is a Scottish convention, style of address, or description traditionally used by the heir apparent to:
  1. A current laird
  2. Someone whose name includes a territorial designation
  3. A Scottish chieftainship
  4. A clan chief.
  5. A Scottish baron, only if also a laird and recognised by the Lord Lyon as such.
The style of using the term "Younger" applies equally to a woman who is heir in her own right as to a man. The style of "Younger" is neither a title of nobility nor a peerage and does not carry voting rights either in the Parliament of Scotland or the Kingdom of England. The abbreviation of Younger is Yr. The wife of such an heir may adopt this style also.
When a person bearing this suffix becomes the laird in their own right or succeeds to the arms of a now landless family or inherits the chieftainship of a cadet branch or the chiefship of the clan, they then drop the suffix and the next heir apparent may add the style to their name.

Forms of address