Scottish feudal barony of MacDuff
The Feudal Barony of MacDuff is a Scottish Feudal Barony in Macduff, Scotland, contained mostly within the boundaries of the Town of Macduff, in the Banff and Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Clan MacDuff traces origins to the historic, Lowland, Scottish Duff Clan. William Shakespeare's "MacBeth" has always played a role in the legend of Clan MacDuff, as few can determine the line between The Duff Family history and historical fiction. This ambiguity worked to the benefit of future MacDuff Barons, who were able to prove they were descended from the first Duff to  receive a charter in Northeast Scotland. In 1404 David Duff received the charter, in Aberdeenshire, from Robert III of Scotland. In 1759, William Duff was granted the historic Celtic Title of “Fife”, further tying the Duffs of Northeast Scotland, with their ancient Lowland ancestors - the original Earls of Fife from the 11th century. William Duff had five sons - the eldest, James, would become the 2nd Earl Fife and the 1st Baron of MacDuff. James invested heavily in the village of Doune, or “Down”, across the River Deveron from Banff. He built a harbor there in 1760, which quickly became more  successful than the harbor at neighboring Banff, which had been established much earlier. In 1783 a charter was granted by King George III, changing the name from "Doune" to "Macduff" in his favor and, although a lesser title than Earl, bestowing on him the dignity of the 1st Baron of Macduff. Barons of MacDuff. James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife, 1st Baron of MacDuff. Born: 1729 Died: 1809 Preceded by: N/A Succeeded by: Alexander Duff Seat: Duff House Alexander Duff, 3rd Earl Fife, 2nd Baron of MacDuff. Born: 1731 Died: 1811 Preceded by: James Duff Succeeded by: James Duff Seat : Duff House James Duff, 4th Earl Fife, 3rd Baron of MacDuff. Born: 1776 Died: 1857 Preceded by: Alexander Duff Succeeded by: James Duff Seat: Duff House James Duff, 5th Earl Fife, 4th Baron of MacDuff. Born: 1814 Died: 1857 Preceded by: James Duff Succeeded by: Alexander Duff Seat: Duff House Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife, 5th Baron of MacDuff. Born: 1849 Died: 1912 Preceded by: James Duff Succeeded by: Lady Alexandra Duff Seat: Mar Lodge Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife, 6th Baroness of MacDuff. Born: 1891 Died: 1959 Preceded by: Alexander Duff Succeeded by: Alexander Ramsay of Mar  Seat: Mar Lodge Alexander Ramsay of Mar, 7th Baron of MacDuff. Born: 1919 Died: 2000 Preceded by: Lady Alexandra Duff Succeeded by: James Mark Domesek Seat: Mar Lodge James Mark Domesek, 8th Baron of MacDuff. Born: unknown Died: unknown Preceded by: Alexander Ramsay of Mar Succeeded by: Eric Cotton Dexter Eric Cotton Dexter, 9th Baron of MacDuff. Born: 1971 Died: N/A Preceded by: James Mark Domesek Succeeded by: N/A J.C. Dexter, Younger of MacDuff. Born: 2000 Died N/A Heir Apparent to the Barony of MacDuff