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![Show Contents]() Airthe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland
A family in the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland was the first to use the name Airthe. They lived in the barony of Airth in Stirlingshire. "The Gaelic term ard, or ardhé, signifying a hill, is supposed to have given the name to this place, in which the eminence called the Hill of Airth is a conspicuous feature, and forms a striking contrast to the level district by which it is surrounded." 1 Early Origins of the Airthe familyThe surname Airthe was first found in the county of Stirling (Gaelic: Siorrachd Sruighlea), a former county in central Scotland, which now makes up parts of the Council Areas of East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire and Stirling, where they were long settled in the barony of Airth near Larbert, Stirlingshire. "A not very common surname derived from the barony of Airth near Larbert, Stirlingshire. About the year 1200 William de Arthe witnessed a grant to the Abbey of Cambuskemielh . Richard Derth (i.e. d'Erth) is mentioned as falconer to the king of Scotland in 1212, and Bain notes in his preface that Airth was a famed breeding place of falcons. " 2 The Earth spelling is an interesting one. We could find only one reference for the name to the far south in the parish of Saltash, Cornwall: "The barton of Earth, which is called a manor in a record of 1620, at which time it is said to have been held under the manor of Bigbury in Devonshire, was in ancient times the property and the seat of the ancient family of Earth, by whose heiress, when the male branches became extinct, it was carried to the Bonds." 3 Early History of the Airthe familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Airthe research. Another 306 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1248, 1271, 1291, 1296, 1300, 1331, 1364 and 1369 are included under the topic Early Airthe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Airthe Spelling VariationsIn medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name Airthe has been spelled Airth, Airthe, Arthe, D'Arthe, Dearthe, D'Airth, Dairth(e), Erth, D'Erth and many more. Early Notables of the Airthe familyMore information is included under the topic Early Airthe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Airthe familyIn such difficult times, Ireland, Australia, and North America looked like better homes for many Scots. The trips were expensive and grueling, but also rewarding, as the colonies were havens for those unwelcome in the old country. That legacy did not die easily, though, and many were forced to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. The Scottish legacy has resurface in more recent times, though, through Clan societies, highland games, and other organizations. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Scottish name of Airthe: John Arth who arrived in Philadelphia in 1740.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
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