The title Earl of Kintore was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1714 for John Keith, along with the title of Lord Keith of Inverurie and Keith Hall. At the death of William, the fourth Earl, in 1761 the earldom became dormant as no-one could prove a claim to it. In 1778, it was decided that the earldom should pass to Anthony Adrian Falconer, Lord Falconer of Halkerton, who changed his surname to Keith-Falconer. The Lordship of Falconer of Halkerton and the Earldom of Kintore remained united until 1966, when, at the death of the tenth Earl, the Lordship became dormant.

The eleventh holder of the title, Ethel Sydney Keith, married John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven. At the death of Lord Stonehaven, the titles Viscount Stonehaven (created 1938), and Baron Stonehaven (1925), both in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, passed to the couple's son, James, who later changed his name to Keith upon inheriting his mother's title.

Earls of Kintore (1677)

• John Keith, 1st Earl of Kintore (d. 1714)
• William Keith, 2nd Earl of Kintore (d. 1718)
• John Keith, 3rd Earl of Kintore (c. 1699-1758)
• William Keith, 4th Earl of Kintore (c. 1702-1761) (dormant 1761)
• Anthony Adrian Keith-Falconer, 5th Earl of Kintore (d. 1804) (revived 1778)
• William Keith-Falconer, 6th Earl of Kintore (1766-1812)
• Anthony Adrian Keith-Falconer, 7th Earl of Kintore (1794-1844)
• Francis Alexander Keith-Falconer, 8th Earl of Kintore (1828-1880)
• Algernon Hawkins Thomond Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore (1852-1930)
• Arthur George Keith-Falconer, 10th Earl of Kintore (1879-1966)
• Ethel Sydney Keith, 11th Countess of Kintore (1874-1974)
• James Ian Keith, 12th Earl of Kintore (1908-1989)
• Michael Canning William John Keith, 13th Earl of Kintore (1939-2004)
• James Keith, 14th Earl of Kintore