Hailes is traditionally believed to have been founded by an Englishman, taken prisoner in the reign of David II of Scotland, who was rewarded with the grant of lands in East Lothian for having rescued the Earl of Dunbar and March from an attacking horse.

[1] Patrick de Dunbar, 9th Earl of March granted the Barony of Hailes to Adam de Hepburn (or Hibburne or Hyburne) in 1343 (thus the Hepburns held Hailes in heritage from the Earl of March, who in turn held it on behalf of the Crown); Hew Gourlay of Beinstoun having earlier forfeited the lands.

Sir Patrick Hepburn was created a peer of the Parliament of Scotland under the title Lord Hailes in 1453.

In 1692, the Lordship of Hailes was disponed by James Melville of Halhill to Sir David Dalrymple, advocate[2] and remained in the Dalrymple family until 1876 when it was transferred to A.J.

Holders of the barony in heritage from Patrick de Dunbar, 9th Earl of March, who held it on behalf of the Crown: On 20 Dec 1451, James II, King of Scots, raised the Barony of Hailes into a Lordship for Sir Patrick Hepburn, thereby converting the Barony that had been held in heritage from the Earl of March into a Lordship granted by the King.