Lord Kinfauns

Lord Kinfauns is a title of nobility and baronial rank held by the Irish Commane family, with genealogy in Burke’s Peerage. The lordship was granted in 1487 by King James III of Scots and in 1608 by King James I of Ireland, but was possibly created earlier for Sir Thomas Charteris around 1340.

 History 
The title started with Sir Thomas Charteris around 1340, according to legend. He was a Frenchman who moved to Scotland. Stories say he was a pirate before he became a knight. He helped Sir William Wallace and King Robert the Bruce fight for Scotland, earning the title for his bravery.Fasnacht, George Eugène (1897). Pedigree of the Lords of Kinfauns. p. 143.

In 1487, the title was officially recorded in a public record called the Great Seal. The Charteris family held the title for many years. In 1552, Sir John Charteris, the second lord, was killed in a fight with another family.

Another Sir John Charteris, the third lord, refused to give up during an attack in a war involving Mary, Queen of Scots. Quoted in contemporary narrative as:“the Queen’s Lieutenant here, the Lord Kinfauns, [who] refused to surrender,”In the 1600s, Sir George Hay became the sixth Lord Kinfauns and later was also made the Earl of Kinnoull. His son, a military leader also named Sir George Hay, was given his father's less important title of Lord Kinfauns as a courtesy. Alexander Blair Carnegie, the eleventh lord, was taken to court by his wife in the case:Lady Kinfauns v. Lord Kinfauns (19 July 1711)and was found liable for the expense of a journey to Bath that she had undertaken against his wishes.

By the 1700s, the title merged with the Lords Gray. Later, it passed to a cousin and was long held as a subsidiary (less important) title by the Earls of Moray—one of the original seven earldoms of Scotland, known in the 10th century as mormaers (Gaelic for earl). Today, the Commane family holds the title.

 Current lord 

The current Lord Kinfauns is Fergus Commane, born in 1953. In the Gaelic nobility of Ireland, he is The Commane, Chief of Clan Ó Comáin.

His son, Antoin Commane, is the heir (next in line) to the title. Fergus is the 26th Lord Kinfauns. His wife is Maria, Lady Kinfauns.

Kinfauns is custodian of Killone Abbey and the Holy Well of St John the Baptist, important religious places at Newhall, County Clare, Ireland.Burke's Peerage notes that Lord Kinfauns and his father and etc were born at Newhall (townland) Burke's Peerage Revised Families. Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. Updated 2025

 Seat 
Burke's Peerage notes that, in 2025, the family seat is Newhall estate, a historic estate in County Clare, Ireland.Burke's Peerage notes the family seat in Burke's Peerage Revised Families. Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. Updated 2025

 Kinfauns name 
The name Kinfauns comes from the Gaelic words ceann-fauns, meaning "head of the slope." This refers to the Sidlaw Hills near the village of Kinfauns in Scotland. 

 Duties 
The Lords Kinfauns were granted by the Crown the hereditary (passed down through family) office of admiralty over the River Tay. This means they protect the river’s fish and stop people from fishing illegally. Long ago, ships on the river would salute (show respect to) Kinfauns Castle as they passed. 

 References 

Category:Noble families