The place name "Restalrig" means "ridge of the miry land" (from "lestal", a northern dialect term meaning "mire" and "rig", Scots and northern English meaning a linear field or land-holding). It is first mentioned as Lestalric in 1165, when Edward de Lestalric built a church on the site. The church was completed in 1210 by his grandson, Sir Thomas de Lestalric. The area, over the following centuries, is variously named as Lestalryk, Restalric or Rastalrig. The Norman noble family the de Lestalrics were the ancient landowners in the area (including nearby South Leith). Sir John de Lestalric died in 1382, leaving his estate to his daughter Katharine and her husband, Sir Robert Logan, who became the laird.