| Viscountcy of Arbuthnott | |
| Creation Date: | 16 November 1641 |
| Heir Apparent: | Christopher Keith Arbuthnott, Master of Arbuthnott |
| Remainder To: | the 1st Viscount's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten |
| Subsidiary Titles: | Lord Inverbervie Master of Arbuthnott Chief of the Name and Arms of Arbuthnott |
| Family Seat: | Arbuthnott House |
| Motto: | Laus Deo "Praise to God" |
Viscount of Arbuthnott is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1641, along with the subsidiary title Lord Inverbervie, for Sir Robert Arbuthnott. The Viscount of Arbuthnott is the hereditary chief of Clan Arbuthnott.[1]
At the time of the 16th Viscount's death in 2012, the family held the genealogical record of being one of an unbroken male line living in the same spot for more than 800 years. Around 1188, William the Lion granted ancestor Hugh de Swinton the lands of Arbuthnott, where the family estate and clan association headquarters remain to this day.[1] [2]
All Scottish viscounts have 'of' in their titles, contrary to English viscounts who are styled simply 'Viscount X'. However, most Scottish viscounts have now adopted the English practice; only the Viscount of Arbuthnott and, to a lesser extent, the Viscount of Oxfuird, continue to use 'of'.
The family seat is Arbuthnott House, Arbuthnott, near Inverbervie in Kincardineshire.
The heir apparent is the present holder's only son, the Hon. Christopher Keith Arbuthnott, Master of Arbuthnott (b. 1977).[1]
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his only son, Alexander Nicholas Keith Arbuthnott (b. 2007).
| Arms of Viscount of Arbuthnott | |
| Coronet: | Coronet of Viscount |
| Crest: | A peacock's head couped proper, beaked or |
| Escutcheon: | Azure a crescent between three mullets argent |
| Supporters: | Two wyverns, wings expanded, tails nowed vert, spouting fire proper |
| Motto: | Laus Deo ("Praise to God") |
| Badge: | A peacock's head couped at the neck issuant from a chaplet of peacocks' feathers all proper, banded at the base with a riband azure doubled argent and ensigned of a viscounts coronet |
