The Scottish surname Keith, also found in Ireland, is an habitational name from the lands of Keith in East Lothian, Scotland. In the 17th century numerous bearers of this name settled in Ulster in the north of Ireland. It is said that a Scottish warrior slew the Danish General Camus at the legendary Battle of Barrie in 1010. For this, King Máel Coluim II of Scotland dipped three fingers into the blood of the slain and drew them down the shield of the warrior. Thereafter the warrior was named Marbhachir Chamius or Camus Slayer. It has been claimed that, ever since this event, that the Chief of the Clan Keith has borne the same mark of three red lines on his arms. The first Keith on record as Marischal of Scotland is Hervey de Keith (1196) described as Marscallus Regis Scotie in correspondence between the monks of Kelso Abbey and Jocelin, the Bishop of Glasgow. He was Marischal during the reigns of Malcolm the Maiden and William the Lyon.

KEITH RAISED FAMILY CREST RING