AIRTH, an uncommon surname
derived from the barony of Airth near Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland.
The term 'Erth' (Gaelic = Ardhe) signifies a hill.
AIRTH has many variations --
de ARTHE, DERTH, d'ERTH, de HERTH, de ERTH, de ERTHE, ARTHE, AIRTHE
*About the year 1200 William de ARTHE witnessed a grant
to the Abbey of Cambuskenneth (Cambus, 81).
*Richard DERTH (ie: d'ERTH) is mentioned as falconer to the king of Scotland in 1212
(Bain, I, 532) and Bain notes in his preface that AIRTH
was a famed breeding place of falcons.
*Willelmus de HERTH witnesses a charter by Maldouen, 3rd Earl of Lennox, c. 1248
(Levenax, 11).
*Adam de Erth in 1248 held considerable lands in Stirlingshire,
subsequently divided into Erth, Elphinston, Carnock and Plane.
*Elena, spouse of Bernard de ERTH, laid claim to certain lands in the
sheriffdom of Dumbarton in 1271 (RMP., p. 191).
*Hugh de ERTHE, bailiff to Sir John Cumyn in 1291,
is probably the Hugh de ERTHE, knight,
who was taken prisoner in Dunbar Castle in 1296 (Bain, II, 532 and p. 178).
*Marie, widow of Huwe de ERTHE of the county of Stirling,
and Richard de ERTHE, king's tenant in the county of Edneburk,
both rendered homage in 1296 (ibid., II, p. 201, 214).
According to Nisbet's Heraldry,
the family of this Richard de ERTHE ended in female heirs.
In 1291, there were a number of claimants to the Scottish throne
and King Edward I of England "volunteered" to hear their case and decide who had the most valid claim.
Those involved met Edward at Norham on Tweed in 1291.
Edward insisted on all the nobles signing an oath of loyalty to him.
Some declined but many signed what was the first (and smaller) of the "Ragman Rolls"
SIGNATORIES IN THE RAGMAN ROLLS OF 1296
Erth (Erthe), Alexander de (Alifaundre de Erthe)
Erth (Erthe), Marie qe fu la femme Huwe de (del counte de Striuelyn)
Erth (Erthe), Richard de (tenant le Roi du comte de Edeneburgh)
Erth (Erthe), William de (del counte de Pebbles)
*Between 1296 and 1300 William of ERTH appears as a charter witness (Laing, 18).
*Fergus de Erth occupied Airth Castle in 1309.
1314 - Sir John Airth was killed at the
famous Battle of Bannockburn near Airth Castle.
He was in charge of Robert the Bruce's supply train.
1314 - Sir William d'Erth of "Airth" was in command of King Robert the Bruce's baggage and supplies
at Cambuskenneth Abbey when it was attacked by the Earl of Athol,
who because of a connection with the Comyns was on the English side.
Sir William was killed.
After the battle King Robert granted his son John the Barony of Plane and knighted him on 25th June 1314.
This was a major honour as the land commanded
the road from Falkirk to Stirling along which any army would have come.
Sir John would be required to build fortification on this site.
*In 1331 Thomas de ARTH had a dispute with the Earl of MAR (APS., I, p. 512).
*John de ERTH witnessed a charter by Robert Steward of Scotland, temp. David II
(ibid., I, p. 561),
W. de ERTHE is witness to a confirmation charter of David II in 1364
(RMS., I, 187).
*Fergus de ERTH appears in 1369 (RMS., I, 336).
*Sir William de ERTHE was one of the hostages for King James I in 1423-24
and again in 1426 (Bain, IV, 942, 1003).
His family ended in 3 daughters ---
the eldest Agnes de ERTHE, prior to 1414, married
(1) Edward de BRUS,
2nd son of Sir Robert BRUS (BRUCE) of Clackmannan,
and (2) an Elphinstone.
1440s - Sir William d'ERTH of Airth, Carnock, Plane etc.
had no sons but 3 daughters -- Agnes, Elizabeth and Mariota.
He left his baronies of Plane, Carnock and Airth to them.
Daughter Elizabeth de ERTHE married William de DRUMMOND,
brother to Annabella de DRUMMOND who married Robert III,King of Scotland
and became the parents of James I, King of Scotland.
