Tarvit
Tarvit CUP TVX PS NO379145 2 20m
(Roger of) Theruith 1160 RRS i no. 174 [= St A. Lib. 207; w.]
villa de Teruet c.1228 Barrow 1974 no. 5 [Nether Tarvit; see p. 271, above]
meas tres Tarvez 1204 x 1229 Campbell 1911, 222 [o.c.; see Inglistarvit CER]
ecclesiam de Teruet 1209 x 1238 NLS Adv. MS 15.1.18 no. 14 [o.c.]
ecclesia de Tharuet c.1245 St A. Pont. [MS Paris BN latin 1218]
ecclesia de Tarveth c.1250 Dunf. Reg. no. 313 p. 208
ecclesia de Tarueth’ c.1250 St A. Lib. 34 [10 merks]
Tarveht in dan 1260 Barrow 1974 no. 9 [o.c.; Inspeximus of 1283 x 1285; referring to Nether Tarvit (see pp. 271–2, above)]
Taruetandane c.1280 Barrow 1974 no. 8 [o.c.; Nether Tarvit]
Taruetadan’ 1290 x 1291 Barrow 1974 no. 11
Taruetanard’ c.1290 Barrow 1974 no. 11 [o.c.; Hilltarvit CUP]
(Henry of) Tarvet 1296 CDS ii no. 824
Henry de Tarueth 1296 Inst. Pub. 147 [one of the Fife tenants of the bishop of St Andrews who does homage to Edward I at Berwick]
tota terra sua de Tarueth in Dan 1312 NAS GD82/4 [inspeximus charter by Geoffrey prior of Beauly (Belli Loci) and others, of a charter of Bp Gamelin of St Andrews (1255–71) which in turn confirmed a charter by William Avenel granting ‘all his land of Nether Tarvit’ to Thomas Wallace (Walens)][174]
domino de Ynglistarwet c.1315 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 5 [*Inglistarvit CER]
(mill of) Tarwet c.1315 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 5
Westir-tarvate 1392 RMS i no. 870 [see Hill of Tarvit S CUP]
Wester Taruate 1392 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 21 [see Hill of Tarvit S CUP]
Tarwet 1418 CSSR i, 15
Tarwate 1448 Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 53 [to John of Wemyss of that ilk]
Tarvat 1452 x 1480 RMS ii no. 1444 [St Andrews Church land]
Nethir-Tarvat 1452 x 1480 RMS ii no. 1444 [St Andrews Church land]
Tarvate 1468 RMS ii no. 958 [to John Wemyss of that ilk]
Ale and<er> Inglis de Tarvat 1476 RMS ii no. 1233 [*Inglistarvit CER]
Ale . Tarvate de eodem 1482 RMS ii no. 1500 [*Inglistarvit CER]
baronia de Tarwald 1488 RMS ii no. 1715 [*Inglistarvit CER]
Ale and<er> Inglis de Terwald 1489 RMS ii no. 1878 [*Inglistarvit CER]
Ale ander Inglis de Tarvat 1491 NAS GD26/3.796 [*Inglistarvit CER]
Ale <ander> Inglis de Terwat 1508 RMS ii no. 3274 [*Inglistarvit CER]
Westere Tarbet 1511 RMS ii no. 3636 [James IV confirms to David Wemyss of that ilk in lands of Wemyss-shire, Little Lun MAI, Tullybreck MAI, Cameron Mill MAI, the Haugh SCO, Duniface MAI (all PNF 2), Pitconochie DFL (PNF 1), Wester Tarvit, Wester Dron and Hill Drone LEU; see also RMS iii no. 953]
ecclesiam parochialem S. Michaelis de Tervat 1512 x 1566 RMS iv no. 1742 [‘parish kirk of St Michael of Tarvit’; see CUP, TVX Intro.]
Ale <ander> Ingilis de Tarvet 1513 RMS ii no. 3836
in territorio de Minore Terwat 1516 Fife Ct. Bk. 50 [the late John Fouty burgess of the burgh of Cupar (de Cupro) died seised in lands in and around Cupar including 2 acres ‘in the territory of *Little Tarvit’]
Johnne Inglis of Terwat 1518 Fife Ct. Bk. 132
Litill Tarvat 1519 x 1521 RMS iii no. 196 [lands of *Little Tarvit commonly called Happy Hill; see p. 265, above, for more details]
Ale ander Inglis de Tervat 1520 Fife Ct. Bk. 169
Wester Tarbet 1530 RMS iii no. 953 [to Wemyss of that ilk]
rectori<a> de Tervatt 1539 St A. Rent. 50
Hiltarvat 1539 St A. Rent. 89 [see Hilltarvit CUP, TVX]
Ale andero Inglis de Tervait 1541 RMS iii no. 2273 [*Inglistarvit CER]
Hiltervat 1542 St A. Rent. 145 [see Hilltarvit CUP, TVX]
Ale and<er> Inglis de Tarvet 1548 Retours (Fife) no. 18 [*Inglistarvit CER]
(lands of) Tervat 1550 RMS iv no. 406 [to Alexander Inglis of Tarvit (Tervat) and Elizabeth Kemp, the lands of Tarvit, their mill and the Milton (lie Mylntoun), and lands of Balbirnie (Balbarny) MAI, in barony of Tarvit; *Inglistarvit CER]
Mylis Tarvet c.1560 s Assumption, 55 [in error for Inglis Tarvet; its teinds to St Mary’s Collegiate Kirk, St Andrews; *Inglistarvit CER]
parsonage and vicarage of Tervat c.1560 s Assumption, 88
Tarvat 1579 RMS iv no. 2926 [*Inglistarvit CER]
Hiltarvat 1581 x 1582 RMS v no. 421 [see Hilltarvit CUP]
terras de Hiltarvat 1583 RMS v no. 633 [see Hilltarvit CUP]
terras de Littill Tarvet 1587 RMS v no. 1290
Wester Tarbat 1589 RMS v no. 1653 [John Wemyss, the lands of Wemyss-shire (Wemyis-schyre) with castle etc., as in 1511]
Tarvat 1590 St A. Kirk Sess. 659 [Robert Ramsay, servitour to the Laird of Tarvat, begets an illegitimate child ‘under the auld hall, after supper’]
Inglis-Tarvatt 1592 RMS v no. 2206 [*Inglistarvit CER]
Tarvatt 1592 RMS v no. 2206 [John Inglis ‘then of Tarvit’ (tunc de Tarvatt)]
Nethir et Over Tarvat 1593 RMS v no. 2273 col. 4 [among St Andrews lands granted to duke of Lennox; Nether and Over Tarvit and Gladney CUP]
Johannis I<nglis> de Tarvat 1597 RMS vi no. 637 [*Inglistarvit CER]
Lytill Tervet 1600 PSAS 47, 199 [the lands of *Little Tarvit, lying on the east side of St Catherine’s Haugh (Sanct-Katheringis-hauch) CUP]
Letill Tarwelt 1602 Retours (Fife) no. 126 [David Ramsay of Brackmont LEU]
unam baroniam de Tarwet 1603 x 1604 RMS vi no. 1529 [*Inglistarvit CER]
Wester Tarvet 1610 Retours (Fife) no. 210 [John Wemyss]
baronia de Tarvett 1611 RMS vii no. 576 [see *Inglistarvit CER PNF 2]
Ale ander Inglis de Tarvett 1611 RMS vii no. 588 [see *Inglistarvit CER]
Johannes Inglis de Tarvett 1612 RMS vii no. 608 [see *Inglistarvit CER]
(lands and barony of) Tarvett 1612 RMS vii no. 747 [see following]
(free barony of) Scottistarvett 1612 RMS vii no. 747 [see Scotstarvit CER]
(lands of) Inglistarvett nunc Scottistarvett nuncupatis 1613 Retours (Fife) no. 1550 [‘Inglistarvit now called Scotstarvit’, q.v. CER]
Inglis-Tarvett 1613 Retours (Fife) no. 1552 [*Inglistarvit CER]
terras templarias de Litill Tarbert 1614 RMS vii no. 1100 [‘temple lands’]
terras templarias de Littill Tarbert 1614 RMS vii no. 1100 col. 5
Joanni Scott de Scottistarvett 1618 RMS vii no. 1878 [Scotstarvit CER]
terras et baroniam de Tarvet 1618 RMS vii no. 1878 [to John Scott of Scotstarvit (Scottistarvett) CER]
Scottistarvett 1619 RMS vii no. 1983
Wester Tarvet alias Wemys-tarvett 1620 RMS viii no. 42 [see Hill of Tarvit S CUP, discussion, above]
de terris de Hiltarvett 1620 RMS vii no. 2163 [grant by archbishop of St Andrews ‘to John Mackieson, clerk’ (Joanni M’kiesone clerico) of the burgh of Crail, and his wife Catherine Philp, ‘of the lands of Hilltarvit’ CUP, with manor-place, loch (lacu), etc. in the regality of St Andrews, on resignation of David Huntar, formerly of Hilltarvit (Hiltarvett), and his wife Isobelle Paterson]
landis and baronye of Scottistarvet 1621 APS iv, 678 [NAS PA2/20, fos 88r–89v]
the landis and Barronie of Tarbert 1621 APS iv, 678 [see preceding entry]
the said place of Inglischtarvet now callit Scottistarvet 1621 APS iv, 678 [NAS PA2/20, fos 88r–89v]
terras de Wester Tarvett alias Weymis-tarvett 1629 RMS viii no. 1432
terris de Hiltarvett 1631 RMS viii no. 1804 [William Moncreiff of that ilk grants to his heir Robert Forbes of Rires KCQ 300 marks p.a. from lands including the lands of Hilltarvit CUP, q.v.]
Joanni Scott de Scottistarvett 1631 RMS viii no. 1826 [see following entry]
terras et baroniam de Tarvett 1631 RMS viii no. 1826 [to John Scott of Scotstarvit CER, lands and barony of Tarvit with tower, etc., in parish of Ceres (Sires), as in 1621, with addition of lands of West Pitcorthie KRY (PNF 3)]
Hiltarvet 1635 RMS ix no. 315 [king confirms to Thomas Hope of Craighall CER all the mines of gold, silver, copper, lead, tin etc. within Hope’s own lands and in lands held by Hope from other superiors, i.e. church-lands of Ceres, and lands of Arnydie CER, Hilltarvit CUP and Ballas CUP, incorporating all in free barony of Craighall, naming Craighall as principal messuage]
Joannis Scott de Scottistarvett 1635 RMS ix no. 364 [see following]
terras et baroniam de Tarvett 1635 RMS ix no. 364 [to James Scott, son of John Scott of Scottistarvett, as in 1631]
terras de Hiltarvet 1642 RMS ix no. 1063 [king grants to Thomas Hope of Craighall CER, lands of Hilltarvit with manor-place, loch, etc., mains lands of Carslogie MML with tower and manor place, lands of Arnydie CER, SSL with teinds and ‘the moss of Arnydie’ (mossa de A.), the kirklands of Ceres, hereditary office of baillie of the provostry of Kirkheugh (Kirkheuch) SSL etc.]
terras et baroniam de Hiltarvett 1643 RMS ix no. 1356 [to Thomas Hope]
Hilltarvett 1642 Gordon MS Fife
Little tarvett 1642 Gordon MS Fife
Scottishtarvett 1642 Gordon MS Fife
Tarvett hill 1642 Gordon MS Fife [= Hill of Tarvit hill CUP]
Tarvett mill 1642 Gordon MS Fife [= OS Pathf. Tarvit Mill CER]
(John Scott of) Scottistarvet 1645 RMS ix no. 1588
Weymis-tarvett 1645 RMS ix no. 1588
Wester Tarvet alias Weymis-tarvet 1645 RMS ix no. 1588
My Lord Scotstaruet 1649 Lamont’s Diary 3
Scottistarvatt 1650 Retours (Fife) no. 1584 [James Scott, son of James Scott of Scotstarvit; knight, in lands and barony of Tarvit, with mill, in parish of Ceres]
in terris et baronia de Tarvatt 1650 Retous (Fife) no. 1584 [see preceding]
Hill of Taruett 1654 Blaeu (Pont) East Fife [settlement; see Hilltarvit CUP]
Little Taruett 1654 Blaeu (Pont) East Fife [CUP]
Scottis taruett 1654 Blaeu (Pont) East Fife [see note below]
Taruet mill 1654 Blaeu (Pont) East Fife [CER]
Taruett cottoun 1654 Blaeu (Pont) East Fife [CER]
Hill Tarvet 1654 Blaeu (Gordon) Fife [CUP]
Lit. Tarvet 1654 Blaeu (Gordon) Fife [CUP]
Scots Tarvet 1654 Blaeu (Gordon) Fife [CER]
Tarvet mill 1654 Blaeu (Gordon) Fife [CER]
Litletarvat 1684 Adair/East Fife [CUP]
Scotstarvat 1684 Adair/East Fife [CER]
Tarvat m. 1684 Adair/East Fife [for m<ill>; CER]
Taruet mill 1753 Roy sheet 18, 1
Hill Tervot 1775 Ainslie/Fife [= OS Pathf. Hilltarvit Mains]
Tervot 1775 Ainslie/Fife [= *Nether Tarvit; ‘Peter Rigg Esq.’]
Tervot Hill 1775 Ainslie/Fife [= Hill of Tarvit (hill)]
Tervot Mill 1775 Ainslie/Fife
Wemyss Hall 1775 Ainslie/Fife [Hill of Tarvit (house); ‘James Wemyss Esq.’]
Hill Tarvit 1828 SGF [= OS Pathf. Hilltarvit Mains]
Scotstarvit 1828 SGF
Tarvit Mill 1828 SGF
Wemyss Hall 1828 SGF [= OS Pathf. Hill of Tarvit, i.e. *Wemyss’ Tarvit]
Tarvit Ho. 1828 SGF [close to OS Pathf. Tarvit Farm; =*Nether Tarvit]
Tarvit House 1856 OS 6 inch 1st edn. [at NO383140]
Tarvit Mill 1856 OS 6 inch 1st edn [‘Flax Spinning’]
Wemyss Hall 1856 OS 6 inch 1st edn [= OS Pathf. Hill of Tarvit]
G tarbh or Pictish * taru- + – at
‘Bull-place’; the ending, which derives from early Celtic –ant-, appears as –at, later –ad or –aid, as a name-forming suffix on place- and river-names in both Ireland and Scotland (see Watson 1926, 444–5). It is now impossible to know what was uppermost in the minds of the original name-givers. It may have been applied literally, as the place where a famous bull or bulls lived; it may have referred to a local story, now lost; or it may have referred to some kind of totem, or even nick-name, for the local tribe or other social grouping. For a further discussion of such names, see Kincaple SSL (PNF 3).
Taruetandane is for Middle Gaelic *Tarbhait ind fháin literally ‘Tarvit of the low place’, i.e. nether or lower Tarvit (see the discussion under Ballindean BMO, above, and PNF 5, Elements Index under fàn). This is no doubt Nethir-Tarvat of RMS ii no. 1444, the modern Tarvit House Estate (Barrow 1974, 38) (beside OS Pathf. Tarvit Farm). This contrasts with Taruetanard’ of the same thirteenth-century charter (Barrow 1974, 38), which is Middle Gaelic *Tarbhait an àird[175] ‘Tarvit of the height’ i.e. upper Tarvit, and corresponds to Hilltarvit. See also CUP Intro., above.
Part of the lands of Tarvit are referred to as Westfeld in an original charter of c.1290 (Barrow 1974 no. 11). As Barrow states, it is not to be confused with modern Westfield in Cupar (ibid. 38).
In 1204 × 1229, Earl Malcolm of Fife granted to Richard son of Andrew of Linton ‘my three Tarvits’ (meas tres Tarvez). It is not clear what parts of TVX these ‘three’ refer to: they may be *Nether Tarvit, Hilltarvit and what later became Inglistarvit/Scotstarvit. If this is the case, the north-eastern part of TVX (containing *Nether Tarvit and Hilltarvit) must still have belonged at that point to the earl of Fife, although by about 1228 ‘the toun of Tarvit’ (villa de Teruet, i.e. *Nether Tarvit) belonged to the bishop of St Andrews (see Barrow 1974 no. 5 and CUP, TVX Intro., Tenurial History, above), which means that Earl Malcolm must have granted those lands to the bishop before this date. A far more probable alternative is that ‘meas tres Tarvez’ applies to three parts of TVX in the south-west of the parish, perhaps Inglistarvit/Scotstarvit CER, Tarvit Mill CER and Hill of Tarvit (formerly Wemyss Hall or Wemyss Tarvit), now partly in CUP and partly in CER. Certainly the Wemyss family, associated with the lands of Tarvit as early as c.1315 (Fraser, Wemyss ii no. 5), and whose Tarvit holding is named Wester Tarvit in 1392, held this land as feudal tenants of the earl of Fife (RMS i no. 870).
For detailed discussions of Scotstarvit, formerly Inglistarvit, see s.nn. PNF 2.
Tarvit House (NO383140, on the lands of Nether Tarvit) was built for Patrick Rigg of Morton c.1790; it was demolished in 1963 (Gifford 1988, 415). OS Pathf. Tarvit Farm lies about 300 m south-east of that site. This was the home farm of Tarvit House, and was also built c.1790 (ibid., 415–16).
OS Pathf. shows Hill of Tarvit (the hill, with Hill of Tarvit House, earlier Wemyss Hall, marked simply ‘Convalescent Home’) CUP, Hilltarvit Mains CUP, North Scotstarvit CER, Scotstarvit CER, Scotstarvit Tower CER, Tarvit Mill CER and Tarvit Farm CUP. Hilltarvit was formerly known as Tarvit an áird, i.e. Over Tarvit; Scotstarvit was formerly known as Inglistarvit; Hill of Tarvit was formerly known as Wester Tarvit, Wemyss-Tarvit or Tarvit Wemyss; and Tarvit Farm was formerly known as Nether Tarvit or Tarbhait ind fháin, and seems to have included *Little Tarvit (for which see Happy Hill # CUP).
The NGR given above is that of ‘St Michael’s Church of Tarvit and Graveyard’ (in Gothic script) on OS 6 inch (1856).
/'tarvət/
This place-name appeared in printed volume 4