Keith Family Tree research resources

Dig into the past of the Keith Family History using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Family History !

Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 3210 people with the Keith surname? In that year Keith was ranked number 1283 for popularity in the UK.

"The family are descended from Robert, chieftain of the Catti, who having joined Malcolm II, at the battle of Panbridge, in 1006, was instrumental in gaining a great victory over the Danes, and slew with his own hand Camus, the Danish leader, which King Malcolm perceiving he dipped his three fingers in Camus's blood and drew three strokes or pales on the top of Robert's shield, and these have ever since been the arms of his descendants. In the year 1010, he was advanced by King Malcolm to the hereditary dignity of Marshal of Scotland, and rewarded with a Barony in Lothian called Keith Marshal, and also with the island of Inskeith in gulf of Edinburgh. "_{(The origin and signification of Scottish surnames. Clifford Stanley Sims, 1862)}

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"KEITH. Of territorial origin from the lands of Keith in East Lothian. Fraser (History of Laurencekirk, p. 28) would have us believe the Keiths to be descended from the Catti, a Germanic tribe, who in the early centuries of the Christian era inhabited what is now Hesse in southwest Germany! A section of the tribe emigrated to Scotland at the beginning of the eleventh century under a leader named Robert, who helped defeat the Danes under Camus at Barry in 1010! Malcolm de Reth witnessed Eschina de Londonis's gift of the church of Molle to the Abbey of Relso, 1185 (Kelso, 146), witnessed a gift of lands in Inuerwyc to the same abbey c. 1190 (ibid., 255), and is in record again as witness to the confirmation of the church of Lundoris to the Abbey of Lundoris in 1202 (LAC., 107). Bernard de Reth witnessed a charter by Hugh rydale, dominus de Craneston, a. 1200 (Neubotle, 12). Magister John de Reth, a cleric, witnessed the gift of Swaynystoun (Swanston) to the Hospital of Soltre, between 1238-70 (SoUre, p. 28). Johannes de Reth in Perth, 1289 (ER., i, p. 49), and Bernard de Reht was juror on an inquest at Berwick in 1296 (Bain, n, p. 210). Andrew Rethe of Enyrrugy was one of the hostages for King James i in 1425 (Bain, rv, 983). Antoun of Keth, a witness in Aberdeen, 1484 (CRA., p. 414). "The Keith of 1455 was first made Lord Reith, and then the first Earl Mairschall. There was a line of ten earls between 1455 and 1715, and there is hardly a Scotch noble family who have not the blood of the Reiths in their veins" (SHR., n, p 390). Mqysie (Memoirs, p. 47 748) under 1584, mentions one Andreas Reathe, a Scotsman and councellor to the "Ring of Suaddan" (Sweden) came to Scotland to visit the King and friends. "Albeit of meane parentis, yit throw his guid behauiour promouit to great honour, and promotioun;" and by the king was (15 March) "maid lord Dingvall." John Ret was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1534 (NSCM., i, p. 53). In Germany in the eighteenth century the name was transformed into Rite, and in the United States it has become Gate. Rayt 1542, Reyth 1626, Reythe 1621, Reytht 1590. (2) In Caithness this surname is in Gaelic Caidh, "That it represents a short form of MacDha'idh," says Prof. Watson, "is phonetically possible but otherwise unlikely" (i, p. 382). In the fourteenth century one of the Keiths of the Earls Marischal family married one of the heiresses of the Cheynes of Akergill, and settled in the North, hence their North of Scotland connection. Thomas Keith, a Scottish soldier in the British army serving in Egypt, was taken prisoner by the Turks in 1807, embraced Islamism, and after many adventures became governor of El-Medina where Mohammed is buried. "_{(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)}

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