Smailholm Tower was originally built in the 15th century or early 16th century by the Pringle family. 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, 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.