Keith, an ancient parish on the SW border of Haddingtonshire, now forming the western district of Humbie parish. Keith and ancient Humbie, at the end of the 17th century, were called respectively Keith-Symmars and Keith-Hundeby. Keith Water, formed, at the boundary with Edinburghshire, by the confluence of Earl Water and Salters Burn, runs 1⁷/8 mile north-eastward, across ancient Keith parish, to a confluence with Humbie Water, 4¼ furlongs N of the present parish church. Keith House, once a seat of the Earls Marischal, and now the property of the Earl of Hopetoun, stands a little to the left of Keith Water, ¾ mile WSW of that stream's confluence with Humbie Water and 3¾ miles NNE of Blackshiels. Once a fine old building, it acquired the timber used in its construction in a gift from the King of Denmark towards the close of the 16th century, and has within its grounds remains of an ancient chapel and graveyard. Places called Keith, Keith Mains, and Upper Keith are within from 3 to 10 furlongs of Keith House; and a fourth called Keith Hill lies 2¾ miles to the SSE.—Ord. Sur., sh. 33, 1863.

(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)