Leith would be a "locatif" surname (spelling ?), ie it derives from the place. The four main origins of surnames are from a) patronymics (occasionally matronymics) ie from the father (Malcomson, Manson) b) location (Leith, Heddle, Norquoy) c) trade (Smith, Stewart) d) nicknames/adjectives (Stout, Armstrong). To give you an example of how they evolve, there may have been two John Johnsons, one a Smith by trade and the other a Labourer from Leith. To distinguish between the two of them, they would have been known as John the Smith and John from Leith, shortened to John Smith and John Leith. The Parish Register of Walls gives evidence in the early 1700s that patronymics had not completely been superseded. They survived into the early 1800s in Shetland. The Scandinavian countries kept them in use for longer with Sweden only adopting surnames at the start of THIS century (ie the 19th century). Iceland still uses patronymics. Regards David Perth, Western Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: Yarbro Family <yarbro@wctc.net> To: <ORKNEY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2000 9:23 PM Subject: [ORKNEY] Leith > Can anyone tell me what the relationship is between the LEITH name in Orkney and Leith, Scotland, near Edinbrugh. What about Leith Hall? Is that family any relation to the Leiths who ended up in Orkney? My branch of the family traces back to Strommness, but I haven't gone back past the 1800s in my research. > Kate > yarbro@wctc.net > >