Clan Little
Encyclopedia
Clan Little is a Scottish clan
of the Borders
. The clan does not currently have a chief
and is therefore considered an armigerous clan
.
documents as parvus meaning little or small. Black goes on to note that Hugo parvus was a clerical regis in the time of William the Lion and Hugo parvus was burgess of Dundee
in about 1202. Given that the name is descriptive it is impossible to find any clear origin of the Little name in Scotland.
According to Dr. Johnnie C (Crawford) Little, the Littles are descended from Richard le Lytle, himself a descendant of Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester, the nephew of William the Conqueror. The Littles trace their male line through the Dukes of Normandy to Ingjald
, the last Yngling Peace King of Uppsala, Sweden who ruled in the mid 7th century AD.
In the 12th century David I
King of Scots appointed Walter fitz Alan, an Anglo-Norman from Shropshire, as High Steward of Scotland. In his capacity as Steward, Walter granted lands at Cairntable, Ayrshire
to Alan Little, a former neighbour on the Shropshire-Cheshire border. By 1300 the Littles had settled in Dumfriesshire
where Nichol Little was recorded as Conservator of the Peace for Lochmabenston in the Scottish West March of the Anglo-Scottish border
.
Between 1406 and 1420 Simon Lytil was granted tenure of Meikledale, Sorbie and Kirktoun in Ewesdale, Dumfriesshire by the then regent, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
. The grant was confirmed in 1420 when James I
returned from his captivity in England. Simon Little, lst Laird of Meikledale, is therefore considered to be the first chief of the name.
, one of the main leaders in the early Wars of Scottish Independence
. Sir William's sister married a Little and her son, Edward, became a trusted lieutenant of his. Edward Little is commemorated in Blind Harry
the Minstrel's poem The Wallace
: "And Edward Littil his sisters sone so der / Full wel graithit in till thar armour cler".
in 1455, the Eskdale-Ewesdale lands passed to the Maxwell
clan and the Little's allegiance subsequently changed.
had risen to power such that it was reputed in 1528 that they could muster 3,000 horsemen, Littles amongst them. Their leader, Johnnie Armstrong
of Gilnockie, posed a threat to King James V who arranged in 1530 to meet him at Caerlanrig
. The Armstrong retinue was surprised by the king's men and 33 Armstrongs, Littles, Elliots and Irvings, including Johnnie, were hanged on the spot. In 1568 over 100 Littles rode with Batysons, Armstrongs, Glendinnings and Thompsons on John Maxwell
, Earl of Morton's raid on Stirling. Family tradition has it that the Littles returned with many more horses then they set out with. They were pardoned in 1585.
in 1603 meant that James I of England
and VI of Scots no longer had a need for strong men in his 'Middle Shires'. The Border reivers had become a nuisance to the king and efforts were made to disband them using fire, noose and sword. Many Borderers were transported to Ireland and others fled into north-west Cumberland
. At this time Simon Little of Meikledale was chief, followed by his son, Thomas, and grandson, David, chief in 1670.
. He had two sons: Simon Little of Nittyholm who had seven daughters, and Matthew (William?) Little who lived in Reading and 'went to sea' in 1745. Any descendants of Matthew have yet to be traced.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Littles migrated throughout the United Kingdom and to North America, Australia and New Zealand.
of the Lairds of Meikledale were: sable a saltire argent, also sable a saltire engrailed argent.
The Clan Little Society (Scotland & Worldwide) is an armigerous society, having its own arms granted by Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1997.
Magnum in Parvo - Great in little.
Fidei Coticula Crux - The cross is the touchstone of faith.
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
of the Borders
Border Country
Border Country is a novel by Raymond Williams. The book was re-published in December 2005 as one of the first group of titles in the Library of Wales series, having been out of print for several years. Written in English, the novel was first published in 1960.It is set in rural South Wales, close...
. The clan does not currently have a chief
Scottish clan chief
The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan. From its perceived founder a clan takes its name. The clan chief is the representative of this founder, and...
and is therefore considered an armigerous clan
Armigerous clan
An armigerous clan is a Scottish clan, family or name which is registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon and once had a chief who bore undifferenced arms, but does not have a chief currently recognized as such by Lyon Court...
.
Origins of the Clan
According to Black, Little is a descriptive name and was originally written in latinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
documents as parvus meaning little or small. Black goes on to note that Hugo parvus was a clerical regis in the time of William the Lion and Hugo parvus was burgess of Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
in about 1202. Given that the name is descriptive it is impossible to find any clear origin of the Little name in Scotland.
According to Dr. Johnnie C (Crawford) Little, the Littles are descended from Richard le Lytle, himself a descendant of Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester, the nephew of William the Conqueror. The Littles trace their male line through the Dukes of Normandy to Ingjald
Ingjald
Ingjald illråde or Ingjaldr hinn illráði was a legendary Swedish king of the House of Ynglings. Ingjald may have ruled in the 7th century, and he was the son of the former king Anund....
, the last Yngling Peace King of Uppsala, Sweden who ruled in the mid 7th century AD.
In the 12th century David I
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
King of Scots appointed Walter fitz Alan, an Anglo-Norman from Shropshire, as High Steward of Scotland. In his capacity as Steward, Walter granted lands at Cairntable, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
to Alan Little, a former neighbour on the Shropshire-Cheshire border. By 1300 the Littles had settled in Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The lieutenancy area of Dumfries has similar boundaries.Until 1975 it was a county. Its county town was Dumfries...
where Nichol Little was recorded as Conservator of the Peace for Lochmabenston in the Scottish West March of the Anglo-Scottish border
Anglo-Scottish border
The Anglo-Scottish border is the official border and mark of entry between Scotland and England. It runs for 154 km between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. It is Scotland's only land border...
.
Between 1406 and 1420 Simon Lytil was granted tenure of Meikledale, Sorbie and Kirktoun in Ewesdale, Dumfriesshire by the then regent, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany
Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany , a member of the Scottish royal house, served as Regent to three different Scottish monarchs...
. The grant was confirmed in 1420 when James I
James I
James I may refer to:* King James I of Aragon * King James I of Sicily , also King James II of Aragon* James I, Count of La Marche , Count of Ponthieu...
returned from his captivity in England. Simon Little, lst Laird of Meikledale, is therefore considered to be the first chief of the name.
Wars of Scottish Independence
About the time of Alan Little's grant of land at Cairntable, Walter the Steward granted lands near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire to Richard le Waleys, also of Shropshire. This Richard was the g-g-grandfather of Sir William WallaceWilliam Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
, one of the main leaders in the early Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
. Sir William's sister married a Little and her son, Edward, became a trusted lieutenant of his. Edward Little is commemorated in Blind Harry
Blind Harry
Blind Harry , also known as Harry, Hary or Henry the Minstrel, is renowned as the author of The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace, also known as The Wallace...
the Minstrel's poem The Wallace
The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace
The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace, also known as The Wallace, is a long "romantic biographical" poem by the fifteenth century Scottish makar of the name Blind Harry probably at some time in the decade before 1488...
: "And Edward Littil his sisters sone so der / Full wel graithit in till thar armour cler".
15th Century
Members of the Little clan became established in Ewesdale, Eskdale and Wauchopedale. Following the House of Douglas' forfeiture as tenants-in-chief,following the Battle of ArkinholmBattle of Arkinholm
The Battle of Arkinholm was fought on May 1, 1455, at Arkinholm near Langholm in Scotland, during the reign of King James II of Scotland.Although a small action, involving only a few hundred troops, it was the decisive battle in a civil war between the king and the Black Douglases, the most...
in 1455, the Eskdale-Ewesdale lands passed to the Maxwell
Maxwell
-People:* Maxwell , Grammy winning R&B/neo-soul singer* Maxwell Cabelino Andrade , a Brazilian footballer who plays for Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona...
clan and the Little's allegiance subsequently changed.
16th Century
By the start of the 16th century Clan ArmstrongClan Armstrong
Clan Armstrong is an armigerous clan whose origins lie in Cumberland, south of the frontier between Scotland and England which was officially established in 1237....
had risen to power such that it was reputed in 1528 that they could muster 3,000 horsemen, Littles amongst them. Their leader, Johnnie Armstrong
Johnnie Armstrong
Johnnie Armstrong or Johnie Armstrong is a Child ballad number 169 and relates to the story of Scottish raider and folk-hero Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie, who was captured and hanged by King James V in 1530.-History:...
of Gilnockie, posed a threat to King James V who arranged in 1530 to meet him at Caerlanrig
Caerlanrig
Caerlanrig - also spelled 'Carlenrig' - is a hamlet in the parish of Cavers, Borders, Scotland, lying on the River Teviot, 6 miles north east of that river's source, and 10 miles south west of Hawick.-Etymology:...
. The Armstrong retinue was surprised by the king's men and 33 Armstrongs, Littles, Elliots and Irvings, including Johnnie, were hanged on the spot. In 1568 over 100 Littles rode with Batysons, Armstrongs, Glendinnings and Thompsons on John Maxwell
John Maxwell
John Maxwell may refer to:*John Maxwell, 4th Lord Maxwell , Scottish nobleman and head of the Border family of Maxwell*John Maxwell , Scottish prelate, Archbishop of Tuam, Bishop of Ross...
, Earl of Morton's raid on Stirling. Family tradition has it that the Littles returned with many more horses then they set out with. They were pardoned in 1585.
17th Century
The Union of the CrownsUnion of the Crowns
The Union of the Crowns was the accession of James VI, King of Scots, to the throne of England, and the consequential unification of Scotland and England under one monarch. The Union of Crowns followed the death of James' unmarried and childless first cousin twice removed, Queen Elizabeth I of...
in 1603 meant that James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
and VI of Scots no longer had a need for strong men in his 'Middle Shires'. The Border reivers had become a nuisance to the king and efforts were made to disband them using fire, noose and sword. Many Borderers were transported to Ireland and others fled into north-west Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
. At this time Simon Little of Meikledale was chief, followed by his son, Thomas, and grandson, David, chief in 1670.
18th Century
David Little was the last Little to be Laird of Meikledale. Following the Pacification of the Border the lairdship passed to Thomas Beattie and David was given work as a groom at Windsor CastleWindsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. He had two sons: Simon Little of Nittyholm who had seven daughters, and Matthew (William?) Little who lived in Reading and 'went to sea' in 1745. Any descendants of Matthew have yet to be traced.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Littles migrated throughout the United Kingdom and to North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Arms
The armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the Lairds of Meikledale were: sable a saltire argent, also sable a saltire engrailed argent.
The Clan Little Society (Scotland & Worldwide) is an armigerous society, having its own arms granted by Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1997.
Crest badge
The Clan Crest badge is made up of the last chief, The Little of Meikledale's heraldic crest and motto:- Meikledale's motto: Concedo nulli, or Fidei coticula crux.
- Meikledale's crest: A demi lion Sable powdered with saltires Argent, armed Gules, in dexter paw a cutlass Proper and in sinister a saltire Argent.
Mottoes
Concedo Nulli - I yield to no-one my trust.Magnum in Parvo - Great in little.
Fidei Coticula Crux - The cross is the touchstone of faith.
Tartan
Members of the Clan Little Society may wear the Little of Morton Rigg tartan. This sett was designed by Dr Johnnie Little of Morton Rigg, then clan guardian, in 1991. It incorporates elements of the Wallace tartan (alluding to the historical connection to Sir William Wallace) and the Shepherd tartan. 19th century photographs of Littles and other Borderers regularly show them in clothing and plaids of the simple, black and white Shepherd sett. In contrast to National Scottish Dress conventions Border clansmen occasionally wear non-matching plaids. For example, it is acceptable to wear trews in the Little of Morton Rigg tartan and a plaid in the Shepherd tartan.Livery Colours
Black and white, taken from the Lairds of Meikledale's arms.Clan March
The Reivers of Meikledale, a 2/4 march written for the clan in 1993 by John Mason MBE.External links
- Clan Little Society (Scotland and Worldwide): http://www.nwrain.net/~little/index.htm
- Clan Little Society (North America): http://clanlittlesna.com/
- The Scottish Register of Tartans: http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/search.aspx