The Lennox

The Lennox (Scottish Gaelic: Leamhnachd, pronounced [ˈʎãũnəxk]) is a region of Scotland centred on The Vale of Leven, including its great loch: Loch Lomond.

The surrounding area is the field of the smooth stream - Leamhnachd in Gaelic; this was originally anglicised as Levenauchen / Levenachs, then softened into Levenax / Lennax, and eventually the area was known simply as Lennox.

The district embraced the whole of the ancient sheriffdom of Dumbarton: the parishes of Rosneath, Arrochar, Row, Luss, Cardross, Bonhill, Dumbarton, Kilmaronock, New Kilpatrick, Old Kilpatrick, Baldernock, Buchanan, Drymen, Killearn, Balfron, Fintry, and Strathblane, with Campsie and Kilsyth, being all within the bounds ruled over by the Earls of Lennox.

[1] In 1581 James VI of Scotland granted Esmé Stewart, Earl of Lennox, the title of Duke of Lennox; the title is currently held by Charles Gordon-Lennox.

Under local government reforms in the mid-19th century, the province of Lennox was re-structured as the County of Dunbartonshire, when the north-eastern shore of Loch Lomond was transferred to Stirlingshire.