[2] In the 12th century, David I King of Scots appointed Walter fitz Alan, an Anglo-Norman from Shropshire, as High Steward of Scotland.

In his capacity as Steward, Walter granted lands at Cairntable, Ayrshire to Alan Little, a former neighbour on the Shropshire-Cheshire border.

[4] Sometime before 1426, Simon Lytil was granted tenure of Meikledale, Sorbie and Kirktoun in Ewesdale, Dumfriesshire by the then regent, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany.

[5] In 1587 the Parliament of Scotland passed a statute: "For the quieting and keping in obiedince of the disorderit subjectis inhabitantis of the borders hielands and Ilis."

This Richard was the great-great-grandfather of Sir William Wallace, one of the main leaders in the early Wars of Scottish Independence.

We believe this because Blind Harry the Minstrel mentioned such a person in his poem The Wallace: "And Edward Littil his sisters sone so der / Full wel graithit in till thar armour cler".

Following the House of Douglas' forfeiture as tenants-in-chief, following the Battle of Arkinholm in 1455, the Eskdale-Ewesdale lands passed to the Maxwell clan.

The Union of the Crowns in 1603 meant that James I of England and VI of Scots no longer had a need for strong men in his 'Middle Shires'.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Littles migrated throughout the United Kingdom and to North America, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

This sett was designed by Dr James "Johnnie" Crawford Little of Morton Rigg, then clan guardian, in 1991.

In contrast to National Scottish Dress conventions Border clansmen occasionally wear non-matching plaids.