An extract from ‘The Scottish Nation…’ Vol III by William Anderson page 305

"...PRINGLE, a surname prevalent in the south of Scotland, a corruption as Sir George Mackenzie conjectures, of the word Palerin or pilgrim.  The account of the PRINGLEs states that one Palerin, who had gone on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, having settled in Teviotdale, his descendants were called from him HOP PRINGLE.  The prefix Hop being synonymous with the British Ap or Irish  O  , signifying a son or descendant, HOP PRINGLE is therefore, supposed to have meant the son of the pilgrim.  The pilgrim’s badge of a scallop shell forms part of the armorial bearings of all families of the name.

Please note this on the Pringle organisation's website.   http://www.jamespringle.co.uk/html/pringle_heraldry.html

The HOP PRINGLEs of that ilk, afterwards the PRINGLEs of Torrence, on Gala Water, were the head of one branch of the name settled in Mid Lothian and the adjoining portions of East Lothian and Berwickshire.  The principal families of this branch were the Pringles of Burnhouse, Hawtree,, Glengelt and those of Rochester and Lees in the Merse.  Their male line failed on the death of John PRINGLE of Torrence in 1738.  His only daughter Margaret, having married Gilbert PRINGLE, one of the PRINGLEs of Stichell carried the estates into that family.  She had no children.  John PRINGLE of Lees then became heir male...."

In 2016, a legal case was won (using DNA testing) by Murray Pringle now Baronet of Stichill who challenged the heir apparent to the title.  This outcome means a certain amount of history needs restating.  Since Sir Murray is in this project, the facts of the matter are best provided by him in due course. 

https://www.theguardian.com/law/2016/jun/20/dna-evidence-proves-accountant-heir-scottish-baronetcy-stichill

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Murray_Pringle,_10th_Baronet

There is much more on the PRINGLE families in Mr Anderson's volume and I am more than happy to scan and email them all to anyone who requests - you just have to ask me   gailriddelldna@gmail.com