The first appearance of the surname Little (Lytle, or le Little) is in the period following the Norman Conquest, Richard Lytle being in line of descent from Robert FitzHugh, Lord of the Barony of Malpas in Cheshire, mentioned in the Domesday Book. (FitzHugh was related to a nephew of William the Conqueror.) A descendant of Richard Lytle came north to Scotland from Cheshire some 750 years ago.

1296/7 Edward Little, one of the descendants of Richard Lytle, and a nephew of William Wallace, assists his famous uncle in guerrilla warfare against Edward I of England, so-called 'Hammer of the Scots'.

1398 Nicol Little is one of the knights and 'squires' entrusted with the repatriation of English prisoners across the Border. He is one of the 'Conservators of the Peace for Lochmabenston' (the Lochmaben Stone, which still exists), the meeting place during the Border Wars for opposing forces to gather and negotiate.

1426 James I, King of the Scots, grants to Simon Litil, chief of the clan, his 'beloved Simon', tenure of the lands of Meikledale, Kirkton and Sorbie in Ewesdale. Simon thus becomes the first Laird of Meikledale.

16th. Century Clement Litil the 2nd. of Liberton (died in 1580) founds the Library of the University of Edinburgh.

1530 James V, King of the Scots, alarmed at the increasing power of the Border Clans - Armstrongs, Elliots, Littles , Irvins and others - invites 32 of their most important members to a parley. It is a trap~ they are seized and summarily hanged. Henceforth, the Littles and other Border clans, formerly loyal to the monarchy, abandon patriotism and concentrate on self-preservation.

1569 A force of over a hundred men of Clan Little joins with the Earl of Morton in a raid on Stirling.

1585 The Littles, and other clans involved in the Stirling Raid, are pardoned by James VI, King of the Scots. (This event is commemorated by a memorial window in the kirk of Bentpath in Dumfriesshire.)

1672 David Little, the Clan's last chief, and the last Laird of Meikledale, registers his coat of arms. With his death, Clan Little becomes 'heidless'.

1745 Matthew Little, last surviving descendant of David Little the last chief, goes to sea and is heard of no more.

1991 Dr J.C. Little of Morton Rig, having researched the history of the Littles in Scotland, founds the Clan Little Society (UK and Worldwide) on St. Andrew' s Day.

1994 Foundation of the Clan Little Society of North America.