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.
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 or Baron 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

  • The written style of address of the heir to a baron is "John Smith of Edinburgh, Younger", abbreviated "John Smith of Edinburgh, Yr.", or "John Smith Yr. of Edinburgh". In the case of the heir to a chief "James Salmond of that Ilk, Yr." or "James Salmond of Salmond, Yr."
  • If a female is the heir in her own right, then she is styled in the same way as a male.
  • The wife of the heir may adopt the same style as her husband and would be addressed in writing as Mrs. John Smith of Edinburgh, Younger.
  • An heir can also be referred to and addressed as "The Younger ", for example "The Younger Edinburgh".
  • If a baron has any younger sons they are styled as "Mr. ". The younger son would not have the territorial surname unless he was the nominated heir presumptive.