Earl of Dumfries is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was originally created for William Crichton, 9th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar, in 1633, and stayed in the Crichton family until the death of the fourth countess in 1742, at which point the title passed to first the Dalrymple and then the McDouall families before finally being inherited by the Marquesses of Bute, where it remains today.
The subsidiary titles of the Earl of Dumfries are: Viscount of Ayr (created 1622), Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (1488), Lord Sanquhar (1622), and Lord Crichton of Cumnock (1633), all in the Peerage of Scotland.
Robert Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (d. 1494)
Robert Crichton, 2nd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (d. 1513)
Robert Crichton, 3rd Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (?)
Robert Crichton, 4th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (d. 1536)
William Crichton, 5th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (d. 1550)
Robert Crichton, 6th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (d. 1561)
Edward Crichton, 7th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (d. 1569)
Robert Crichton, 8th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (d. 1612)
William Crichton, 9th Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (1578–1643) (became Viscount of Ayr and Lord Sanquhar in 1622 and Earl of Dumfries and Lord Critchton of Cumnock in 1633)
William Crichton, 1st Earl of Dumfries (1578–1643)
William Crichton, 2nd Earl of Dumfries (1598–1691); eldest son of the 1st Earl
William Crichton, 3rd Earl of Dumfries (d. 1694); only son of the 2nd Earl, died without issue
Penelope Crichton, 4th Countess of Dumfries (d. 1742); sister of the 3rd Earl
William Dalrymple-Crichton, 5th Earl of Dumfries, 4th Earl of Stair (1699–1769); eldest son of the 4th Countess, with no male heir, the Earldom of Stair passed to a cousin who was a grandson of the 1st Earl of Stair
Lady Elizabeth Dalrymple
Patrick McDouall, 6th Earl of Dumfries (1726–1803)Lady Elizabeth Penelope McDouall-Crichton (1772-1797); only daughter and heir of the 6th Earl of Dumfries
John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute and 7th Earl of Dumfries (1793–1848); only son of Lady Elizabeth McDouall-Crichton and grandson of the 6th Earl
John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute and 8th Earl of Dumfries (1847–1900); only son of the 2nd Marquess and 8th Earl.
John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute and 9th Earl of Dumfries (1881–1947); eldest son of the 3rd Marquess and 9th Earl.
John Crichton-Stuart, 5th Marquess of Bute and 10th Earl of Dumfries (1907–1956); eldest son of the 4th Marquess and 9th Earl.
John Crichton-Stuart, 6th Marquess of Bute and 11th Earl of Dumfries (1933–1993); eldest son of the 5th Marquess and 10th Earl.
John Colum Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute and 12th Earl of Dumfries (b. 1958); eldest son of the 6th Marquess and 11th Earl.
The heir apparent to both titles is the present holder's son John Bryson Crichton-Stuart, Earl of Dumfries (b. 1989).
The heir presumptive to the heir apparent for the Marquessate of Bute is Lord Anthony Crichton-Stuart (b.1961), second son of the 6th Marquess and uncle of the heir apparent.
The heir presumptive to the heir apparent for the Earldom of Dumfries is Lady Caroline Crichton-Stuart (b. 1984), eldest daughter of the 12th Earl (7th Marquess) and elder sister of the heir apparent.
