Clan Gunn
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Clan Gunn is a Scottish clan associated with northeastern Scotland, including Caithness and Sutherland as well as the Orkney Islands.The clan's origins stretch over the sea to Norway, and the Clan Gunn themselves claim descent from the legendary Sweyn Asleifsson, the so-called 'Ultimate Viking', the progenitor of the clan, and through his grandson Gunni, considered to be the "namefather" of Clan Gunn.
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins of the Clan
The origin of the name Gunn is Norwegian. The word "Gunnr" in the Old Norwegian language means "War" or "Battle".
The clan's origins stretch over the sea to Norway, and they claim descent from the legendary Sweyn Asleifsson, the so-called 'Ultimate Viking', the progenitor of the clan, and through his grandson Gunni, considered to be the "namefather" of Clan Gunn. They gained their land in Caithness and Sutherland through marriage to Ragnhild, from whom they can claim Celtic descent, and later expanded those lands through conquest. However, the Gunns were never a large clan, and soon found themselves in conflict with several more powerful neighbours, such as the MacKays and the Keiths. The clan concluded a peace treaty with the latter of these in the 1978, officially bringing to an end a feud dating back more than five hundred years.
Those who did stay in the traditional boundaries were among the line descended from a younger son of George Gunn, Robert Gunn, who was the progenitor of the Rob(i)son and Robinson Gunns of Braemore, though it is not clear how these names came to pass. One theory points to the Norse and Celtic origins of the Clan, using suffixes to denote the order of male children; with "in being second son". It is a difficult line to track as Gunn and other names of this line are used interchangeably in old text. Other branches remained as well moving to the Strath of Kildonan and other locations in Caithness.
[edit] The Westford Knight
It is widely believed that a member of Clan Gunn was among the party of Henry Sinclair, a Scottish Earl whom some believe to have made a voyage to the New World in 1398, traveling to Nova Scotia and New England. This individual is believed to have perished on this expedition and is also known as the Westford Knight. Often, it is claimed that the knight is Sir James Gunn, who reportedly traveled with Sinclair. There is no documentary evidence to support this theory.
[edit] 15th Century & Clan Conflicts
"The Battle of Champions", 1464/1478; It is recorded that the feud began when Dugald, Chieftain of the Keiths, abducted Helen of Braemore, daughter of Lachlan Gunn, when he discovered the she was betrothed to Alexander Gunn. The attack occurred on the night before the wedding, and Alexander was one of those slain by the Keiths. Helen subsequently committed suicide by throwing herself off Ackergill Castle's tower. The following conflicts between the two clans were for the most part indecisive, and losses were numerous on both sides. It is thought that the two chieftains of the clans, George Keith and George Gunn, called the Crowner, agreed to a 'battle of champions', between twelve of the best Gunns and twelve of the best Keiths. George Gunn holds the distinction of being the first of the Gunn chieftains to be definitively recorded, as he was somewhat renowned in Scotland at the time, hence his title of 'the Crowner' as well as the traditional Gunn title of 'MacSheumais Chataich'. He was more widely known, however, as 'Fear Am Braisdeach Mor', the 'great brooch-wearer', so named for the insigia he wore as his badge of office.
The Battle of 'Allt Nan Gamnha' or the 'Battle of St. Tears' for the small chapel it took place in and around, began when the Keiths caught the Gunns unawares, with not twelve men but twenty-four. George Gunn was slain, as were a number, most probably four, of his sons. The Keiths were eventually forced to retreat, barely able to carry their own dead, but not before they had stolen the Crowner's brooch, armour and claymore. His death was later avenged, in one account by one of his sons, most probably Henry, the youngest, who together with a small number of others followed the Keiths back to Dirlot Castle, where they lay an ambush. Henry killed George Keith with through an open window with an arrow. He is reported to have shouted 'Beannachd na Guinnich do ‘n Chai', or 'A Gunn's compliments to a Keith', although translations vary. Henry supposedly recovered his father's possessions and escaped back to Gunn territory. He fell out with James, the eldest brother, who claimed that the items were his by right. Henry eventually submitted to James, but became estranged from his own clan, stating that his descendants would not carry the name of Gunn. Whilst, along with much of the Gunns' early history, there is little to back up this version of events, and it could very well be apocryphal, the Hendersons of Caithness, to this day, have limited contact with the Gunns. There were also other Hendersons in Scotland, and one family in particular, the Hendersons of Glencoe, have no connection with the Henderson branch of Clan Gunn.
[edit] 16th Century & Clan Conflicts
In another account, one hundred years after the events at St. Tears, William MacKames, grandson of George Gunn, ambushed the Keith chief, his son and ten of their retainers as they were travelling. The Keiths, fully anticipating death, asked time for prayer. William is supposed to have responded 'Your father interrupted my grandfather at prayer in God's house (St. Tears), and I will grant you no time for such devotion since it was denied to my grandfather's men.' The death of George Keith and his son, at the hands of the Gunns, extinquished the male line of Clan Keith. It was around this time a large majority of the Gunns, under James Gunn, removed from Caithness into Sutherland.
"Delvines, Nairn", 1562; Clan Gunn Chief, Alistair Gunn had become a man of much note and power in the North. Not just as Chief of Clan Gunn but he had also married the daughter of John Gordon the Earl of Sutherland and because of this he himself felt entitled to hold his head high amongst the best in Scotland. However this led to his undoing when in 1562, in Inverness he bumped into Mary Queen of Scott's brother who was the Earl of Moray. Alistair Gunn believing he was of superior rank and authority behaved with some disrespect and insult to the Earl in public. The Earl soon afterwards sent the Clan Munro to capture Alistair Gunn. The Munros lead by one Andrew Munro entrapped the Gunns at a place called Delvines near Narin. The Gunn Chief was captured and taken to Inverness where the Earl of Moray had him executed "under pretence of justice".
"The Battle of Allt Camhna", 1586; During this battle the Clan Gunn did not do badly considering they were fighting the Clan Sutherland, Clan MacKay and Clan Sinclair, three of the most powerful clans in Scotland. The Earls of Sutherland and Caithness including the MacKays decided to attack Clan Gunn. The Earl of Sutherlands company from Clan Sutherland was commanded by John Gordon of Backies and James MacRorie. The Earl of Caithness's company from Clan Sinclair was conducted by his cousin, Henry Sinclair. The Clan Gunn prepared for the fight and although inferior in numbers had the advantage of being on a hill. The first flight of arrows from the Caithness company fell short. The Gunn's did not and used their position to full advantage. There ensued a sharp conflict, at a place called Allt-gamhna, where Henry Sinclair was slain with 120 of his company, and the rest chased away into the darkness. John Gordon, James MacRorie and Neil MacIan-MacWilliam, who heard what happened to the Earl of Caithness's men, then pursued the Clan Gunn, and followed them to Lochbroom, in the height of Ross, to where they had escaped to. Meeting with them, they invade them at a place called Leckmelm. After a sharp skirmish, the Clan Gunn were overthrown, and chased, many of them slain, and their Captain, George, wounded and taken prisoner, whom they carried along with them unto Dunrobin, and there they deliver him unto Alexander, Earl of Sutherland. This happened in the year 1586. The Gunns had again proved themselves ferocious warriors even when faced with overwhelming odds against them.
[edit] 17th Century & Civil War
The most notable of the Gunns after the differentiation of the Clan was Sir William Gunn, who fought under Charles I, and was knighted by him. After Charles' cause failed, William crossed to Europe, and served in the army of the Holy Roman Empire, became an imperial general and married a German baroness. Much of the clan, however, had to forfeit their lands due to debt at about this time. The Gunns of Killearnan were fortunate enough to obtain new land at Badenloch.
[edit] 18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings
Unlike some highland clans, the Gunns did not rise under the standard of the Stuarts during the Jacobite rebellions, and indeed supported the government in the conflict of 1745 along with other highland clans such as Clan Munro, Clan Campbell, Clan MacKay, Clan Sutherland and Clan Ross. The Clan Gunn came out for the government, led by the MacKeamish. There were about 120 men under arms. They were attached to the Earl of Loudon's regiment. The Clan Gunn did not fight at Culloden; however, a few Gunns, who were with the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden and elsewhere, were captured and transported after the rebellion ended.
[edit] 18th to 19th Century
The eighth MacKeamish, who was William Gunn, son of Alexander of Badenloch, was killed fighting in India in 1780. Upon his death the chiefship passed to his brother, Morrison Gunn, the ninth MacKeamish, who was also serving with the British army. Unfortunately Morrison died in Gibraltar in 1785 before he could assume the office of chief in any meaningful way. Both these chiefs died without issue, resulting in the extinction of the direct male line of Donald Crotaich, the sixth MacKeamish. Some confusion was created in 1803 when the Countess of Sutherland, on whose lands the remnants of the clan resided at the time, decided that the heir to the chiefship should be found.
A sheriff’s court was held on May 31st, 1803 in Thurso to hear arguments from various claimants. The jury at this court finally decided that Hector Gunn, great grandson of George Gunn of Borrobol, the brother of the sixth MacKeamish, was heir male, which he was. However they then proceeded to declare him chief of the clan, which they had no authority to do, as this decision can only be made by the Lyon Court, which was not consulted in the matter. Hector died almost immediately afterward. Hector’s son, George, was a protégé of the Countess, who had purchased a commission for him in the Royal Marines. In 1814, George was declared chief by someone, nobody seems completely sure who, but it was not the Lyon Court. It is probable that he simply assumed the role of chief due to the erroneous belief that his father was chief. It is doubtful that George Gunn of Rhives (Rhives being the estate given to him by the Countess, who hired him as her factor at Assynt) was ever accepted as chief by many of the clan.
The end of the clan system in 1746 had removed most feelings of loyalty and even kinship to the chief amongst the Highland clans, and the Clearances (forced removal from their lands) had created bitterness toward anyone in authority. Gunn of Rhives died in 1859 and his two sons not long after. The simple fact is that neither Hector nor George were legally chief of the clan because they were not declared so by the Lyon Court. However, the story of their appointments to be chief has crept into several authoritative works without a nod toward the legality of it. In legal and genealogical terms, the office of chief of the Clan Gunn became vacant with the death of Morrison Gunn in 1785 and remains vacant today, although the heir, through the female line, has been identified as stated above. The clan is currently ably led by an appointed Commander, Iain Alexander Gunn Of Banniskirk.
Today, the Gunns are a widespread family with roots at home, Canada, the US, Australia, and around the globe. This is attributed to the diaspora that took place during the Highland Clearances in Caithness and Sutherland. If you visit today you can see the old crofts that were burned at this time. Efforts have been made to reunite the Clan with societies in North America, New Zealand, Australia and Scotland. A museum of the Clan's history has also been established at Latheron in Caithness.
[edit] Castles of Clan Gunn
- Dirlot Castle: - OS map reference ND 126486.
The base of a small tower built by the Cheynes in the 14th century, or the Gunns in the 15th, lies on a rock above the river Thurso in a lonely position far inland. On the summit of a crag by the western bank of the River Thurso in a remote and barren area south of Halkirk, are foundations of a tower built by Donald Cheyne. It measures 9.5m by 6.5m with walls 1.6m thick. It had a courtyard on the south-east, measuring 13m by 7m, which had only a parapet to defend it. In 1464, Dirlot was held by George, chief of the Gunn clan, but it was held by Alexander Sutherland at the time of his execution in 1499, for killing Alexander Dunbar. The castle was subsequently granted to the Clan MacKay by King James IV of Scotland.
- Clyth Castle or "Gunn’s Castle": - OS map reference ND 307386.
In a difficult to access site on a rock by the shore are the foundations of a tower built about 1500 by the Gunns. A rock which is almost an island at high tide has sheer cliffs on all sides except to the west, where there is a steep slope up from the beach. At the summit was a wall near the remains of which are footings of a tower house, measuring 11.3m by 7m, with walls about 1m thick.
- Halberry Castle: - OS map reference ND 302377.
At the neck of a coastal promontory is the base of the 15th century tower house of the chief of the Gunns. This site has a long narrow sea inlet isolating it from higher ground on the mainland. Across the neck is a ditch, 10m wide and 2m deep, which presumably one had an inner wall or bank and stockade. Close behind the ditch are grass-covered foundations of a tower house, measuring 13.5m by 8.3m. It was probably in existence by the mid 15th century, when George, chief of the Gunn clan had a residence there.[1]
[edit] Clan Profile
- Gaelic Names: Guinne (Surname)
- Motto: Aut Pax Aut Bellum; translated literally as "Either peace or war", colloquially translated as "In peace and war."
- Slogan: Clyth
- Pipe Music: "The Gunn's Salute"
- Plant Badge: Juniper.
[edit] Commander
Iain Alexander Gunn of Banniskirk was appointed Commander of Clan Gunn, by commission of Lord Lyon on June 9, 1972.
[edit] Clan Seat
The Gunns are represented as living mainly to the north of Dunrobin Castle, which stands on eastern coast of Sutherland.
[edit] Coat of Arms and Crest
Coat of Arms
There are no arms for Clan Gunn. In Scotland arms are granted to individuals, not families. No arms for a chief of Clan Gunn have been located in any registry of arms in Great Britain. The Lyon Court has recently identified William Sinclair Gunn of Inverness as the heir to the chiefship of Clan Gunn. If Mr. Gunn petitions to be named chief and is, then the Lyon Court will design his arms at that time.
A coat of arms was noted by Robert Ronald McIan in his The Clans of The Scottish Highlands, published in London by Ackermann and Co., 1845;
- "The coat armour is arg., a galley of three masts, sails furled and oars in action, sab., displaying at the mast-head, flags, gu., within a bordure az. On a chief of the third, a bear's head of the first, muzzled of the second, between two mullets of the field."
We do not know whose arms Mr. Logan, the author of the text of this book, is describing. It is certain that they were not the arms of the Chief of the Clan Gunn, as no such arms have been found, nor was there a chief in 1845. R. R. McIan was the illustrator of The Clans of The Scottish Highlands, but the text was the work of Mr. James Logan, though the book is billed as belonging to McIain. The work is fanciful in many ways, as Victorian "histories" tended to be at times.
Commercial websites offer items depicting the arms as a variant of this, although if the arms belong to someone then, strictly speaking, to do so is a violation of Scottish law.
Crest
The Clan Gunn crest badge is pictured above right. The description of the crest on the personal arms of Iain A. Gunn of Banniskirk, Commander of the Clan Gunn differs, being: A dexter cubit arm attired in the proper tartan of Clan Gunn, the hand Proper grasping a basket-hilted sword blade Gules, hilted Argent. This description is of the crest on the personal arms of Banniskirk, not the badge worn by clanspersons. Banniskirk also has a badge, which appears on his guidon and is described as: Within a chaplet of juniper an arm naked, the hand Proper grasping a basket-hilted sword, blade Gules, hiited Argent.
[edit] Tartan
The Gunn tartan is common in 'weathered', 'ancient', 'muted' and 'modern' colourings.
The ancient tartan served well as camouflage, as it blends in well with the sombre colours found in Scottish heath and mountain landscapes.
[edit] Septs of Clan Gunn
- Anderson, (Mac)Andrew(s)
- Cro(w)ner, Cruner, Kroner
- George(son), MacGeorge
- Henderson(s), Henry, Inrig, (Mac)Enrick(s)
- Jam(i)eson, James
- Johnson, Jonsson
- MacComas, MacKeasmish, MacHamish
- MacDade, MacDavid, Davidson
- (Mac)Kean(e)
- Magnus(son), (Mac)Manus, (Mac)Main(s), Manson, Mann
- More
- Ne(i)lson, (Mac)Neal
- Rob(i)son, Robinson
- Sandison
- Swan(son), Swenson, Svenson, Sveinsson
- Swann(ey)
- William(s), Williamson, Wilson, Wyl(l)ie
[edit] Clan References
In Canadian author Margaret Laurence's 1974 novel The Diviners, the lead character Morag Gunn grows up with her uncle telling stories of the bravery of the Clan Gunn.
