Further to the discussion of the name Keith I came across the following regarding the place name Keith in "The Book of the Chrinicles of Keith, Grange, Ruthven, Cairney,and Botriphnie: Events, Places, and Persons" which relates to the transformations of the name. "Ket, Keth, Keath, Keyth, and Keith, occur in either of these spellings 21 times in the Register of the See of Moray. The name appears for the first time on record in the charter by King William the Lion, granting Grange to the Abbey of Kinloss, dated at Elgin 31st July 1195-96. The Church of Keith, being a Mensal Church of the Bishops of Moray, was Granted to the Cathedral of Elgin abour A D 1203............ In a Charter of King Alexander II. (AD 1214-1224), "Kethmalruf" i.e. Keth of Malruve, occurs. This is a combination of the Place and of the Saint to whom the Church was dedicated" There follows an interesting (to me anyway) discourse about how the name of the Irish Saint Maelrubha changed to Malrubius and was corrupted into Summaruf, Samarive, Summarius and then into the absurdity of Summer Eve and the fair held in Keith in the Autumn called the Summer Eve Fair. The Rev Alexander Humphrey minister of Fordyce and late assistant minister of Keith in 1793 writes as one of those who see most old names as having a Gaelic origin! He writes that the place name Keith is derived form the word "ghaith, which in Gaelic signifies wind and which when pronounced by a native Highlander, is not very dissimilar in sound from the word Keith. He goes on to say that this etymology is countenanced by the local situation of the Kirk and old village, near which lies an Eminence, peculiarly exposed to violent gusts of wind, vulgarly called Arkeith, an evident corruption of the the Gaelic words "Ard-Ghaith" signifying "high wind". He goes on to say that in some old charters the name is written as "Gith" which resembles the word "ghaoth" Not being a Gaelic scholar I hesitate to comment on the words of the Rev Mr Humphrey. The "The Book of the Chrinicles of Keith, Grange, Ruthven, Cairney,and Botriphnie: Events, Places, and Persons" is a fascinating book with tremendous insights into the conditions of this part of Scotland in times past from witchcraft to the local celebrations and worthies and their habits plus details of buildings, stone monuments and their inscriptions which have been lost. regards George -- George Brander Torre de la Horadada España