Earl of Kintore

Earl of Kintore is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1677 for Sir John Keith, third son of William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal (see Earl Marischal for earlier history of the family). He was made Lord Keith of Inverurie and Keith Hall at the same time, also in the Peerage of Scotland. At the death of William, the fourth Earl, in 1761 the earldom became dormant as no-one could prove a claim to it. In 1778, it was decided that the earldom should pass to Anthony Adrian Falconer, Lord Falconer of Halkerton, who changed his surname to Keith-Falconer. The Lordship of Falconer of Halkerton and the Earldom of Kintore remained united until 1966, when, at the death of the tenth Earl, the Lordship became dormant.

The eleventh holder of the title, Ethel Sydney Keith-Falconer, married John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven. At the death of Lord Stonehaven, the titles Viscount Stonehaven (created 1938), and Baron Stonehaven (1925), both in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, as well as the Baronetcy of Urie, passed to the couple's son, James. The Countess of Kintore, who died the day after her one-hundredth birthday, was the longest-lived female holder of a British peerage; upon inheriting his mother's title, her son James changed his name to Keith.

The family seat is Keith Hall, near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

The heir apparent to the earldom uses the courtesy title Lord Inverurie.