The title Earl of Dundee was created in 1660 in the Peerage of Scotland for John Scrymgeour. He held the office of Hereditary Royal Standard-Bearer of Scotland, which gave him the right to bear the Royal Standard in front of the Monarch in procession, and the office of Constable of Dundee. At his death, King Charles II declared that the first Earl had no heirs-male, and seized all of his lands. The earldom of Dundee became dormant.

John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale claimed the office of Standard-Bearer.After Lauderdale's death, the office of Standard-Bearer was not claimed by anyone, until Henry Scrymgeour-Wedderburn claimed to act as such an officer at the coronation of George IV. The Privy Council did not grant him the authority to appear at the coronation, but did confirm his possession of the office of Standard-Bearer.

Thereafter, the title of Earl of Dundee was revived in 1953, when it was determined that the first Earl did indeed have heirs-male, contrary to the assertion of King Charles II. The title was given to Henry James Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, who had previously served in the House of Commons and in the Cabinet.

The Earl of Dundee holds the titles: Viscount of Dudhope (created 1641), Lord Scrymgeour (1641) and Lord Inverkeithing (1660). All titles are in the Peerage of Scotland. The eldest son and heir of the earl uses Viscount of Dudhope as his courtesy title.

In the following list Earls of Dundee, the earls who ought to have held the title, but in fact did not, are included.

Viscounts of Dudhope (1641)

• John Scrymgeour, 1st Viscount of Dudhope (d. 1643)
• John Scrymgeour, 2nd Viscount of Dudhope (d. 1668) (became Earl of Dundee in 1660; dormant 1668)

Earls of Dundee (1660)

• John Scrymgeour, 1st Earl of Dundee (d. 1668) (dormant 1668)
• John Scrymgeour, 2nd Earl of Dundee (1628-1698)
• James Scrymgeour, 3rd Earl of Dundee (1664-1699)
• Alexander Scrymgeour, 4th Earl of Dundee (1669-1739)
• David Scrymgeour, 5th Earl of Dundee (1702-1772)
• Alexander Scrymgeour, 6th Earl of Dundee (1742-1811)
• Henry Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, 7th Earl of Dundee (1755-1841)
• Frederick Lewis Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, 8th Earl of Dundee (1808-1874)
• Henry Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, 9th Earl of Dundee (1840-1914)
• Henry Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, 10th Earl of Dundee (1872-1924)
• Henry James Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, 11th Earl of Dundee (1902-1983) (revived 1953)
• Alexander Henry Scrymgeour, 12th Earl of Dundee (b. 1949)