Premier baron is a designation and status awarded to the holder of the most ancient extant barony of the Peerage of England.

Before the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Prior of the Order of St John in England was deemed the premier baron.

[3] On 24 December 1264 Robert de Ros (died 1285) was summoned to Simon de Montfort's Parliament in London,[4][5] and for some time it was considered that the barony was created by writ in that year, giving it precedence over all other English titles unless certain doubtful contentions concerning the title of the Earl of Arundel were accepted.

249-50); but these writs, issued by Simon in the King's name, are no longer regarded as valid for the creation of peerages.

However, whenever a woman holds the title, the holder of the next-highest barony held by a man is known as the premier baron.

The barony was then inherited by his only daughter, Elizabeth Cecil, while the earldom passed to a male heir, his younger brother.

Upon the death of Elizabeth's only son, William Cecil, the title returned to the Manners family, being inherited by the sixth Earl of Rutland.