The title Earl of Buchan has been thrice created in the Peerage of Scotland. Upon the extinction of the first creation, it was granted anew to Alexander Stewart, the "Wolf of Badenoch". In 1425, the third Earl of this line, who was also Duke of Albany, was executed for treason, and the title was forfeit to the Crown. Thereafter, it was issued to James Stewart, whose descendants have held the title since.

The subsidiary titles held by the Earl are: Lord Auchterhouse (created 1469), Lord Cardross (1610) and Baron Erskine of Restormel Castle (1806). The former two of these titles are in the Peerage of Scotland, while the barony is in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The Earls of Buchan sat in the House of Lords by virtue of the UK title until the passage of the Peerage Act 1963.

Earls of Buchan, First Creation (1221)

• William Comyn, 1st Earl of Buchan (d. 1233)
• Alexander Comyn, 2nd Earl of Buchan (d. 1289)
• John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan (d. 1313)
• Henry Beaumont, 4th Earl of Buchan (d. 1340)

Earls of Buchan, Second Creation (1374)

• Alexander Stewart, 1st Earl of Buchan (d. 1404)
• John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Buchan (d. 1424)
• Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany (1362-1425) (forfeit 1425)

Earls of Buchan, Third Creation (1469)

• James Stewart, 1st Earl of Buchan (d. c. 1500)
• Alexander Stewart, 2nd Earl of Buchan (d. 1505)
• John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Buchan (c. 1497-1551)
• Christina Stewart, 4th Countess of Buchan (d. 1580)
• James Douglas, 5th Earl of Buchan (d. 1601)
• Mary Douglas, 6th Countess of Buchan (d. 1628)
• James Erskine, 7th Earl of Buchan (d. 1664)
• William Erskine, 8th Earl of Buchan (d. 1695)
• David Erskine, 9th Earl of Buchan (d. 1745)
• Henry David Erskine, 10th Earl of Buchan (1710-1767)
• David Stewart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan (1742-1829)
• Henry David Erskine, 12th Earl of Buchan (1783-1857)
• David Stuart Erskine, 13th Earl of Buchan (1815-1898)
• Shipley Gordon Stuart Erskine, 14th Earl of Buchan (1850-1934)
• Ronald Douglas Stewart Mar Erskine, 15th Earl of Buchan (1878-1960)
• Donald Cardross Flower Erskine, 16th Earl of Buchan (1899-1984)
• Malcolm Harry Erskine, 17th Earl of Buchan (b. 1930)