Earl of Dunbar

The title Earl of Dunbar, also called Earl of Lothian or Earl of March, applied to the head of a comital lordship in south-eastern Scotland, between the early 12th century and the early 15th century. The first man to use the title of earl in this capacity was Gospatric II, Earl of Lothian, son of Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria. It descended to George de Dunbar, 11th Earl of March, whose titles and estates were declared forfeit by the Scottish parliament in 1435, and he retired into obscurity in England. His son Patrick retained a barony at Kilconquhar in Fife.

The title of Earl of Dunbar was revived in 1605 for George Home, 1st Lord Hume of Berwick, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and his heirs male. This title became dormant only six years after its creation, upon Home's death in 1611. Some of his kinsmen were said to be acknowledged as de jure holders of the title, but none of them ever appears to have assumed the title.

There have been no subsequent creations; however, two other peerages with similar names are Lord of Dunbar and Viscount of Dunbar.

First creation

Using title "Earl of Lothian"

Gospatric II, Earl of Lothian (died 1138)

Gospatric III, Earl of Lothian (died 1166)

Using title "Earl of Dunbar"

Waltheof, Earl of Dunbar (died 1182)

Patrick I, Earl of Dunbar (1154–1232)

Patrick II, Earl of Dunbar (1186–1249)

Patrick III, Earl of Dunbar (1213–1289)

Using mainly the title "Earl of March"

Patrick IV, Earl of March (1242–1308)

Patrick V, Earl of March (1284–1368)

George I, Earl of March (1340–1422)

George II, Earl of March (c. 1370–1457)

Earls of Dunbar, Second Creation (1605)

George Home, 1st Earl of Dunbar (c.1556–1611) – died without male issue

Subsequent claimants to the title

John Home, de jure 2nd Earl of Dunbar (a 1628), brother of 1st Earl, according to the Lord Advocate in 1634, he “conceiving his fortune too mean, forebore to assume the dignity”.