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he name Keith evolved from a warrior
who killed the Danish General Camus at the "Battle of Barrie" in 1010
and then received the lands of Keith in Lothian from Malcolm II. Though now mainly associated with Aberdeenshire & Caithness, the earliest record of the name
Keith is in East Lothian.
Sir Robert Keith commanded the Scottish cavalry at Bannockburn. The Bruce made the office of Marischal hereditary to the
Keiths in 1324 in recognition of Sir Robert's service
to the Scottish Crown.
The 2nd Lord Keith was created "Earl Marischal" in 1428, enhancing the hereditary office of "Marischal". The Marischal, was custodian of the Royal regalia and protected the King at Parliament.
In 1651 the 7th Earl Marischal removed the Regalia of Scotland to the Keith stronghold of Dunnottar
Castle for safety. The Earl Marischal's brother, who had held Dunnottar against the English, was created Earl of Kintore in 1677.
The Keith family supported the Jacobite cause during the 1715 and '45 uprisings and for their part forfeited their lands. The title of Earl Marischal became extinct in the 18th century and the chieftainship of Keith devolved to the Kintore family.
The 9th Earl of Kintore was the Governor General of South Australia from 1889 to 1895.
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