A Scottish nobleman is typically referred to as a THANE, LAIRD, or THANE of Cawdor. A THANE is a Scottish feudal title of nobility, derived from the Old Norse word þegn, meaning 'servant, attendant, or retainer'. A LAIRD is a Scottish landowner who holds a heritable estate in land, and is also known as a LAIRD of the manor. The THANE of Cawdor is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in the 16th century. It is held by the Campbell family, who are descended from the ancient Earls of Cawdor.