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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Titular, n. Also: titulair, -er, tytular, tittular, -ir, tutular, titillar. [MF titulaire one who owns the right to something (1516 in Wartburg). Cf. 17th c. Eng. titular (1620), ultim. f. as Titularadj. or ? rarely f. Titil(l n.] The possessor of title (Titil(l n. 1) to property, etc. a. To ecclesiastical property, a benefice, etc.; in the post-Reformation Church including laymen who came into possession of such property without undertaking any religious obligations or duties. Also titular of teinds, a lay person possessed of the tithes of formerly ecclesiastical property.(1) 1539–40 Reg. Privy S. II 511/1.
Me, M. Thomas Hay, Dene of Dunbar and usufructuar of the personage of Roffen havand regres and reservatioun of the frutis of the said personage to me and to … rais the sammyn with … consent of M. George Hay … persoun and titular of the said personage and als … of … my lord cardinal [etc.] … , patronis alternative of the said personage 1594 Acts IV 54/1.
The said collectour … within the boundis quhair the dissoluit benefice lyis salbe chargeit with the payment of the taxt of the said dissoluit prelacie and thay to haue thair releiff aganis the titularis and possessouris of the … beneficeis … As alswa quhair the titulair is prouidit to the teyndis allanarlie, and the temporalitie disponit in pensioun, the titulair salbe chargeit with the payment of the haill taxt 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 515.
The Lord of Scone … is to mak sute … for ane infeftment of the priorie of Elcho, … he having alreddy satisfeit the present titular for his kyndnes and possessioun 1626 Moray Synod 15.
The present titular so weak that he is vnable to serve the cuir off boith the said kirks 1622-6 Bisset II 80/7.
Tytularis 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. I 514.
It is not our intention … to quarrell or annull any of the confirmed fewes or other lawfull rights of any of the lands of the temporalities of benefices formally set by the ancient titulars thereof 1628 Pastor and Prelate 43.
The prelate is … willing in those times rather to be a titular or a tulchan (as he was than named) then to be no bodie above his brethren c1630 Scot Narr. 24.
In effect it was only to put kirk-men in titles, that noblemen might get the greater security from the titulars of temporall land to be feued by them a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 21.
The comendators at first wer only appoyntit as stewarts to receave the fruits of benefices quhill tytulars wer provydit 1633 Acts V 27/1.
Lands … perteining to … abbacies [etc.] … and quhatsumever vther beneficies … erected in temporall lordschipes … reserving to such lords and titulars of erectiones … the few maills [etc.] a1651 Calderwood VI 178.
If all the great benefices sall be dissolved and the prelate to have the principall kirk … and the rest of the kirks to be provided with … ministers and the said prelats and titulars of the said kirks, to pay a yeerelie duetie to his Majestie 1652 Argyll Synod II 22.
Titulers 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II 6.
William Lowes … and John Twedye … to repaire … the said ruife (the queir belonging to the titular being exceptit) 1681 Stair Inst. ii viii § 16.
Though these offices were abolished by the Reformation, there was no other way fallen upon for managing of benefices but by giving secular persons the designations of these offices, who therefore were called Titulars; because they had the naked title without the office of bishops, priors [etc.](b) 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 92.
Annent the actioun … persewit be Patrik Hoge minister at Fetlair … annent the vicarage of Fetlair, fruitis and rentis thairof, alledgit assingnit to him … the … defendaris … desyrit the said Patrik to produce his presentatioun and richt of the said benefice … alledgit … that Jhone Arnot, William Ballentyne, and utheris clameris titillaris to the said benefice … sould be summond(c) 1633 Maxwell Mem. II 244.
Tittuliris 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 176.
My wmquhill husband and his predicessors having right be way of tack and in possession of ane yaird within the presinckes of Dundrennan moir nor this twa hundreth year bygane onlie peying yearlie to the tittular of Dundrennan … the sowme of ten merks … the quhilk … was alogatt be the bischop of Dumblain to the present minister of Dundrennan as a pairt of his … steippance for serving the cuire within the said parrishe(2) 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 37.
Annent the bischopis umboithis … the said William Sinclair … alledgit titulair of the … umboithis of Nesting … and … the said Androw Giffairt of Woddirsta alledgit tutular of the umbothis of Delting 1630 (1634) Reg. Great S. 13/2.
Johnne lord Halyruidhous, titular of the personage teyndis of the parochin 1686 Mackenzie Observ. (1687) 201.
We call him a titular who has the title of a benefice … and thus the seculars who had right to the teinds due formerly to the church, are call'd titulars of the teinds

b. To non-ecclesiastical property, etc. 1571 Reg. Privy C. II 95.
The said Alexander … hes bene in … possessioun of the office of schirefschipe … like as he is yit havand takkis thairof [etc.] … meaning extraordinary … to debar the said Alexander theirfra, being just titular and possessour thairof 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 100.
The actioun … persewit … tueching the richt and titill of ten merk land … sauld … be Margret Symondsdochter alledgit heretable titular thairof