Little Raith
Little Raith ADN S NT205916 1 385 135m NWF
(lands of) Rathe 1288 x 1309 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 4 [See below; date from witness Matthew of Crambeth bishop of Dunkeld]
(all the land of) Rath 1288 x 1309 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 161 [David Wemyss son and heir of Sir Michael of Wemyss confirms to his uncle John of Wemyss all the land of Rath in the barony of Lochor, with free multure in the common mill of Lochor etc.; date from witness Matthew of Crambeth bishop of Dunkeld]
(lands of) the Rathe x 1386 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 165 [John Boswell of Balmuto to John of Wemyss all his lands of Myrecairnie (Myrcarny) KLM, of the Rathe and of Glenniston (Glenyston) ADN etc.]
(lands of) le Rath c.1390 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 19
(lands of) Rate 1392 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 21
(lands of) Rate 1393 RMS i no. 870
(Sir John Wemyss of) Rath 1427 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 40
(the lordship of) Westir Rath 1427 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 40 [belonging to Sir John Wemyss of Rath; first mention also of Raith KDT, as The Rath]
Wester Rath 1430 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 167
Rath 1432 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 47 [in the barony of Lochquhore]
Westyrrath 1448 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 52 [in Livingston’s barony of Lochore]
the tennandri of Rath’ 1476 ADA 52 [o.c.]
tenandri<a> de Raith 1476 RMS ii no. 1233
Wester Raith 1522 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 95 [‘Wester Raith on the loch syde of Lochgelly’]
Wester Raith 1531 RMS iii no. 980
Wester Raith 1540 RMS iii no. 2128 [in dominio de Lochquhoirschire (in the lordship of Lochoreshire)]
Litill Raith 1546 RMS iii no. 111
Littill Raicht 1557 x 1585 RMS v no. 898
Little Raith 1654 Blaeu (Pont) West Fife
W. Raith 1654 Blaeu (Gordon) Fife
Little Beeth 1753 Roy sheet 17, 5 [evidently confused by the many Beath place-names to the west]
Rathie hill 1753 Roy sheet 17, 5 [apparently under the eastern end of Mossmorran ethylene plant]
Littleraith 1775 Ainslie/Fife [also Raith Cottown to north-west]
Little Raith 1828 SGF
Sc little + en Raith
For a full discussion of this name, and its relationship with Raith KDT, KXY, see ADN Introduction. The lands of Little Raith were in the hands of the Wemyss family by the end of the thirteenth century, when John of Wemyss held the lands of Rathe of his nephew David of Wemyss, one time lord of Lochore (Fraser, Wemyss ii nos. 4, 161). In c.1289 David grants to his Uncle John, and to John’s men dwelling on the lands of Little Raith (Rathe) the right to take fuel, both heather and peats, in his moor of Scleofgarmunth and of Powguild (Polgulde) ADN (Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 4). See Scleofgarmunth # ADN for more.
This place-name appeared in printed volume 1