Earl of Lindsay

Earldom of Lindsay

Quarterly, 1st & 4th: Gules, a fess chequy argent and azure, in chief three mullets argent (Lindsay); 2nd & 3rd grand-quarter: counter-quarterly I & IV: Azure, a fess between three lozenges or (Bethune); II & III: Argent, on a chevron sable, an otter's head erased argent (Balfour) all within a bordure embattled or
Creation date8 May 1633
Created byKing Charles I
PeeragePeerage of Scotland
First holderJohn Lindsay, 10th Lord Lindsay
Present holderJames Lindesay-Bethune, 16th Earl of Lindsay
Heir apparentWilliam Lindesay-Bethune, Viscount Garnock
Remainder tothe 1st Earl's heirs male
Subsidiary titlesViscount Garnock
Lord Lindsay of Byres
Lord Parbroath
Lord Kilbirny and Drumry
StatusExtant
MottoAbove the crest: Je ayme ("I love")
Below shield: "Live but Dreid"
John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford and 4th Earl of Lindsay.

Earl of Lindsay is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for John Lindsay, 10th Lord Lindsay, who later inherited the ancient Earldom of Crawford. The two earldoms remained united until the death of the 22nd Earl of Crawford, also sixth Earl of Lindsay, in 1808. Then the earldom of Lindsay passed to David Lindsay, while the earldom of Crawford became dormant because no-one could prove a claim to the title until 1848. Both David, 7th Earl of Lindsay, and his successor Patrick, 8th Earl of Lindsay, died without sons, and the disputed claim over the earldom was resolved by the House of Lords in 1878 in favour of Sir John Trotter Bethune, 2nd Baronet.

The subsidiary titles of the Earl are: Viscount of Garnock (created 1703), Lord Lindsay of The Byres (1445), Lord Parbroath (1633) and Lord Kilbirnie, Kingsburn and Drumry (1703), all in the Peerage of Scotland. The title Viscount Garnock is used as the courtesy title for the eldest son and heir to the Earl.

The family seat is Lahill House, near Upper Largo, Fife.