 This family, originally spelt Hoppringle, who were followers of the Earl of Douglas, held the lands of Smailholm from the early 15th century, and managed part of Ettrick Forest for their feudal superior.The suffix "-holm" stands for little island; and "Smail" might be Smale, Smail, Smaile, Small, Smalles, Smalls, and Smeal(l), derived from the Old English pre-7th Century "Smael" meaning "small, slender or thin", and was originally given as a nickname to one of slight stature.Smailholm Tower was designed, in common with all Scottish peel towers, to provide its occupants with protection from sporadic English raids.