Marquess of Ailsa
Marquess of Ailsa is a title in the United Kingdom’s peerage. It was created on 10 September 1831 for Archibald Kennedy, the 12th Earl of Cassillis. The name comes from Ailsa Craig, an island in the Firth of Clyde. The 1st Marquess had already been made Baron Ailsa in 1806.
The Kennedy family has older titles too: the Earldom of Cassillis (created in 1509 in Scotland) and various earlier honors dating back to 1457. The Marquess of Ailsa is the hereditary Chief of Clan Kennedy. The family seats are Culzean Castle and Cassillis House in Ayrshire.
There was a famous inheritance dispute from 1759 to 1762 between different heirs, which the House of Lords ultimately resolved in favor of the rightful heirs male of the body.
Today the title is held by David Thomas Kennedy, the 9th Marquess of Ailsa (born 1958). He became Marquess in January 2015, succeeding his older brother. His titles include the Earl of Cassillis, Baron Ailsa, and Lord Kennedy. The heir apparent is Archibald Kennedy, Earl of Cassillis. The motto is Avise la Fin (Consider the end).
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:32 (CET).