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If the Little Clan is 'heidless' (i.e. has no chief), who is, so to speak, its acting head ?
William Wallace, when offered the crown of Scotland, refused, and adopted the title 'Guardian of Scotland', saying he was holding for the absent King, John Balliol. Similarly, The Clan Little Society has a Guardian, who is holding for the absent clan chief.
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Are the Border Littles really a Clan ?
Yes! In an Act of the Scots Parliament, sitting in Edinburgh, dated 1587, a roll of names specifies 34 Highland Clans or 'clannis', and 17 Border Clans, including the Littles. Clan Little is therefore one of Scotland's 51 true clans.
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Is everyone with the surname Little (Lytle, Lyttle) of Scots Origin ?
Not necessarily; there are Scottish Border Littles, English Littles And 'Huguenot' Littles, descended from the Le Tal families of Flanders, Protestant refugees.
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How many Littles are there ?
World wide, there are estimated to be well in excess of 45,000. Little is one of the three commonest surnames in Dumfriesshire (the others are Bell and Johnstone), and is also found frequently across the Border in Cumbria and other, mostly Northern, counties of England. There are many Littles in Ulster, and overseas, in New Zealand, Australia, the USA and Canada.