Clan Kerr

The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs lists 'The Marquess of Lothian' under Kerr as chief of the name, and COSCA gives the same. The Lothian line comes of the Kerrs of Ferniehirst; the Duke of Roxburghe heads the separate Cessford line and is not listed by the Standing Council under Kerr.

It began when Kerr of Cessford was killed at the Battle of Melrose on 25 July 1526, in a clash between Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch and the Earl of Angus's men, with the Kerrs of Cessford on the Angus side. It ran on for decades: Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch was himself killed in Edinburgh on 4 October 1552 by Kerrs led by Sir Walter Ker of Cessford.

First built at the end of the 15th century, it surrendered to a siege by the Earl of Surrey and Lord Dacre on 24 September 1523, was demolished by the Earl of Sussex and Lord Hunsdon in April 1570, and was finally rebuilt in 1598, keeping the cellarage and much of the main block; it is the ancient seat of the Kerrs, Marquesses of Lothian.

The Cessford line became Earls of Roxburghe in 1616 and Dukes of Roxburghe in 1707; the Ferniehirst line became Marquesses of Lothian in 1701.