The title Earl of Airlie was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1586 for James Ogilvy. In 1715, James Ogilvy, son of the third Earl, took part in a Jacobite uprising against the Crown, and was therefore punished by being attained; therefore, at his father's death two years later, he was unable to inherit the title. He was, however, pardoned in 1725. At his death, his brother John was recognised as the Earl, but John's son David was also attained, but later pardoned. Then, a cousin, also named David Ogilvy, claimed the title, suggesting that the previous attainders did not affect its succession, but the House of Lords rejected his claim. Parliament later passed an Act completely reversing the attainders; therefore, David Ogilvy was allowed to assume the title. In the list of earls below, the attainders are therefore disregarded for the purpose of numbering.
Other titles held by the Earl are: Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (created 1491) and Lord Ogilvy of Alyth and Lintrathen (1639). Both are in the Peerage of Scotland.
Lords Ogilvy of Airlie (1491)
- James Ogilvy, 1st Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (1430-1504)
- John Ogilvy, 2nd Lord Ogilvy of Airlie
- James Ogilvy, 3rd Lord Ogilvy of Airlie
- James Ogilvy, 4th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (d. 1549)
- James Ogilvy, 5th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (d. 1606)
- James Ogilvy, 6th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (d. 1617)
- James Ogilvy, 7th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (1586-1665) (became Earl of Airlie in 1639)
Earls of Airlie (1639)
- James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Airlie (1586-1665)
- James Ogilvy, 2nd Earl of Airlie (c. 1615-1703)
- David Ogilvy, 3rd Earl of Airlie (d. 1717)
- James Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Airlie (d. 1731)
- John Ogilvy, 5th Earl of Airlie (1699-1761)
- David Ogilvy, 6th Earl of Airlie (1725-1803)
- David Ogilvy, 7th Earl of Airlie (1751-1812)
- Walter Ogilvy, 8th Earl of Airlie (1733-1819)
- David Ogilvy, 9th Earl of Airlie (1785-1849)
- David Graham Drummond Ogilvy, 10th Earl of Airlie (1826-1881)
- David William Stanley Ogilvy, 11th Earl of Airlie (1856-1900)
- David Lyulph Gore Wolseley Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie (1893-1968)
- David George Patrick Coke Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie (b. 1926)