General Notes

Lennox, Previous Creations: A shadow figure called Alwyn, possibly of Celtic origin, possibly of Saxon origin, possibly of both, may have become Earl of Lennox in the mid-12th century.  He is also referred to in near-contemporary sources as Mormaer of a territory called Leamhan, from which the Levenax or Lennox is derived.  Alwyn's son and grandson, respectively another Alwyn and Maldouen (cognate with Maldwyn), seem to have succeeded to the Earldom, the latter in about 1224.  In a list of the seven Earldoms of Scotland which is thought to have represented the old Mormaerships, by now evolved into medieval titles of honour, and which dates from 1237, that of Lennox features.  Yet it was missing from a somewhat later list, that of 1244, only to be reinstated in yet a third list, that of 1297.  At the time of the earliest of these three lists it was surrendered by Maldouen, the 3rd Earl, to Alexander II for regrant.  This was a common Scottish practice.  [Burke's Peerage, p. 2402]