Little

This name is said by Black to be descriptive, meaning ‘small’. It is found in Latin documents as ‘Parvus’. The problem of all such descriptive names is that it is impossible to assert any certain origin of the name in Scotland. Hugo Parvus was clerk to the king in the reign of William the Lion, some time prior to 1214. Hugo Parvus is also listed as a burgess of Dundee, circa 1202, although it is not known if they are the same person. Nichol Litil served the Earl of Douglas on the West Marches in 1368. The Littles soon established themselves in the Borders, holding lands at Meikledale, Kirkton and Sorbie in Ewesdale. They became part of those turbulent Borders families known as the riding clans, who were, at their height, some of the finest light cavalry ever seen. Edward of Meikledale was a supporter of Sir William Wallace, the patriot, who upheld the independent rights of Scotland agains the oppression of Edward I of England. A charter of James I confirmed to Simon Little the lands of Meikledale. Royal government, however, became fearful of the riding clans’ strength. James V executed the leader of the Armstrongs, having deceived him and another thirty or so persons into attending a meeting for an apparently peaceful purpose. James VI, after the union of the Crowns, was determined to settle the border wars which had lasted several centuries, and he did so with characteristic Stuart ruthlessness. The Littles, in common with other Borders families, were scattered and many emigrated to Ulster, and then to more distant lands in North America, Australia and New Zealand. The family has been without a recognised chief since the late seventeenth century but there is now an active Clan Little Society and it is estimated that there are some forty-five thousand families throughout the English-speaking world owing allegiance to this name.