Clan gunn or gunn clan of scotland history, kilts, tartans. Clan gunn or gunn clan the clan gunn motto either peace or war. An important new clan gunn history book called key issues for a clan gunn history is now available and it radically challenges the old clan gunn history put forward in the clan gunn history books of mark rugg gunn and thomas sinclair. Clan gunn is the worlds oldest clan of scotland dating back the days of the viking age. While mark rugg gunn trieds very hard to make a case for his history, written at the express desire by clan gunn the lord lyons has not terminated the olaf the black history in favor of any other. Of course, information derived from the sagas is somewhat subjective and open to historical. It now has a worldwide membership of over 300 families. History of the clan gunn the clan gunn claims direct descent from gunni, grandson of sweyn asleifsson, the ultimate viking and hero of the orkneyinga saga. Clan gunn is one of the oldest scottish clans, being descended from the norse jarls of orkney and the pictish mormaers of caithness. A clan gunn society was first founded in thurso in 1821 as the loyal and united benevolent society of the clan gunn.
Clan gunn society of north america plus other gunn and scotland related sites. Gunn clan book with the motto of either peace of war and crest of a hand wielding a sword, the gunns trace a proud descent from an early thirteen century norse king of man and the isles. This clan book features the origins of clan gunn and delves into their place in history. This is the list the chief and council recognise and consists of. See more ideas about scottish clans, scotland and scotland history. This book is an important addition to scottish highland history.
Clan gunn is a scots clan associated wi northeastren scotland, includin caithness an sutherland as well as the orkney islands. The gunn family name was found in the usa, the uk, canada, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. Gunn is still one of the top twenty surnames in the highland region of scotland according to the general register office. Hence, the peace treaty was actually signed in the u. The ferocious gunns were continually at enmity with neighbouring clans, especially the keiths. Clan gunn occupied the northern areas of caithness and sutherland and were sworn enemies of clan keith. If you belong to the clan gunn then this clan book is ideal for you makes a great gift idea. If you bear the name gunn, or any one of the sept names or their derivatives historically associated with clan gunn by birthright or by. The book conflicts of the clans, written in 1764, has this to say the crowner slain by the keiths in the chapel of st. Clan gunn history or, more accurately, gunn history visit for real clan gunn history, clan gunn chief news, clan gunn genealogy tartan badge motto. The first gunn known to history was coroner gunn of caithness who died around 1450. Gunn clan crest, aut pax aut bellum motto, family history. Written in 1984, this book continues to be the most uptodate book on the history of clan gunn since its origin. As said, this booklet provides a radical challenge to the traditional history of the clan gunn.
About 35 years ago the gunn clan society was reactivated in scotland and the united kingdom. The traditional origin of the clan gunn is that the progenitor of the clan was one gunni who came to caithness at the end of the 12th century when his wife, ragnhild, inherited the estates from her brother, harald maddadsson who was the earl of orkney. Clan gunn is also descended from the norse jarls, or earls of orkney through gunnis wife ragnhild, who was granddaughter and eventual heiress of st. Their history is closely entwined with the highland clearances sent to faraway countries where the gunn name is to be found as a lasting reminder of that sad tale. Of course, information derived from the sagas is somewhat subjective and open to historical interpretation and evaluation. Short history of clan gunn the clan gunn claims descent from the norse jarls or earls of orkney and from the ancient celtic mormaers of caithness through ragnhild, daughter of moddan in dale, son of moddan, mormaer high steward of caithness, who was killed in 1040, and granddaughter of saint rognvald, jarl in orkney, who married gunni, the.
See more ideas about orkney islands, history and genealogy. A hand clasping a sword proper not official plant badge. This was about % of all the recorded gunn s in the usa. The clan gunn willsons are descended from george gunn the crowner, through his son williamhence wills sonwho lived in the late 1400s. Clan gunn is one of the oldest and most northerly clans in scotland.
View the clan gunn sept database of clan kindreds, septs, surnames etc. He has published a book on the history of the gunn family of auckingill. This book was first published around 1960 and has been reprinted. History of the clan gunn by gunn mark rugg abebooks. The present book, reprinted in 1997, is in paperback. In modern times the novelist neil m gunn wrote many books based on his childhood on the coast of caithness. Mark rugg gunn was not an historian, but he was extremely knowledgeable about his clan. It is not out of print but is available through the clan gunn society of north america and unicorn, ltd. Not as widely used as the guestbooks now, but this searchable database has a few entries and may help speed up the search for clan kindreds of gunn septs, surname, country etc. To submit items for publication in the gunn salute, email.
As one of the oldest scottish clans, the gunns can trace their heritage to the vikings and the norse jarls of orkney. See more ideas about scottish clans, family history and tartan. New york had the highest population of gunn families in 1840. The present clan gunn society formed in 1960 to promote a spirit of kinship amongst members of the clan throughout the world. The gunn family book the gunn family historian is malcolm gunn of adelaide, south australia. There is a record of a robert wilson in the wakeman rolls in yorkshire in 41. Key issues for a clan gunn history by alastair gunn. One of our favorites was the visit to the clan gunn museum. The clan gunn society membership list gives no less that 77 names recognised as being associated with clan gunn, but the list given in frank adams the clans, septs and regiments of the scottish highlands, revised by sir thomas lnnes of learney is much shorter.
This project is for users researching the scottish clan gunn, its history, and descendants. Gunns are best thought of as the original, nonrelated. Clan gunn society posttruth pseudo history where academic argument is ignored or viewed as inconvenient and grand. Gunn lands were constantly being encroached upon from the north. They were a norse family claiming descent from olaf the black and were noted for their ferocious and warlike character. Gunn clan book gunn clan book with the motto of either peace of war and crest of a hand wielding a sword, the gunns trace a proud descent from an early thirteen century norse king of man and the isles.
Mac sheumais chataich son of james of caithness crest badge. The gunn clan motto is aut pax aut bellum which means either peace or war. Ancient origins of the wilson families the mineralogical record. We spent 3 weeks in scotland visiting castles, cathedrals and sights. Jul 28, 2016 clan gunn is the worlds oldest clan of scotland dating back the days of the viking age. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. However, many wilsons in argyll and bute, the lowlands of scotland, northern ireland and the north of england belong to the sept of clan gunn and are of scottish lineage. Taken in by a sweet old woman who mistakes him for her own snail, gary is showered with love, attention and lots of food.
It is the first new gunn history book in over fifty years and the first to use the sutherland estate papers. Please note, we need to receive your article and pictures by the following quarterly dates. As told in volume one of a brief history of clan gunn the youngest son, henry had a severe falling out with james over rightful possession of the crowners arms and other equipment. Published by the clan gunn heritage trust, clan gunn heritage centre, latheron, caithness.
The first gunn clan society was founded in 1821 but drifted in the doldrums for the next century and a quarter. A one sentence summary the nasty, unmarried snaekoll gunnison a supposed clan gunn chief was dragged in disgrace from the orkney islands to norway in 1232 where he stayed until his death in. The name first makes an appearance in england in the fourteenth century. Until recently he also published the gunn family newsletter on a semiregular basis, but this work has stopped, preference being to contribute directly to the website nowadays. Our retail store is located at 570 bryne drive in barrie, ontario, canada. His departure was so bitter that he moved back to the lowlands of caithness. In 1840 there were 42 gunn families living in new york. The clan s oreegins stretch ower the sea tae norawa, an the clan gunn thairsels claim strynd frae the legendary sweyn asleifsson, the saecried ultimate viking, the progenitor o the clan, an throu his grandson gunni, considered tae be the namefaither o clan gunn.
Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. It is not a full history but looks at key issues like the real clan gunn origin, clan gunn chiefs. The clan gunn claims direct descent from gunni, grandson of sweyn asleifsson, the ultimate viking and hero of the orkneyinga saga. In 1969, the gunn clan society was organized in the united states with membership open to all gunns resident in north america. The wilsons of clan gunn, however, were a relatively lateemerginging norse. However, many wilsons in argyll and bute, the lowlands of scotland, northern ireland and the north of england belong to the sept of clan gunn. The clan gunn is often referred to as the macgregors of the north due, in part, to their many conflicts with their neighbours, which had the unfortunate result of the gunns being eventually blamed by other clans as the chief troublemakers in the area. Na guinnich is a highland scottish clan associated with lands in northeastern scotland, including caithness, sutherland and, arguably, the orkney isles.
The only clan gunn history book with a real academic base key issues for a clan gunn history by alastair gunn paperback, for sale online electronics, cars, fashion, collectibles, coupons and key issues for a clan gunn history 9781291735031, paperback, brand. The local histories collection includes books that can be searched by both the current and former municipality names, since several municipalities amalgamated in 2015 and the majority of the collection is about the former municipalities, not the current ones. This has the gunns as a nonkindred tribe of original settlers in the northern highlands. The gunn name may be shared but it is not based on major, shared genealogical links, nor any other uniquely gunn aspects, for an example of this absurdity see the last paragraph in mark rugg gunn s text on page 31. The gunn family historian is malcolm gunn of adelaide, south australia. The gunns once held extensive territory in caithness, nwsutherland and sesutherland. This book was first published around 1960 and has been reprinted three times since. Clan gunn sells mark rugg gunn s book and profits by it. Can gary make it out of grammas house before he explodes. Nov 20, 2014 if you liked what you saw and maybe saw yourself haha please sub scribe and see more more of my lame work lol thank you. Every kilt, skirt and sash is proudly made at our shop here in canada. Chiseled into a rock face, it has been reliably dated back to 95. Maccorkills scottish the famous clan gunn vs clan keith. Surnames regarded as septs subbranch of the gunn clan include enrick, gallie, gaunson, georgeson.
This feud lasted for over 500 years and was settled finally in the 1978s by clans gunn and keith in scotland, at the urging of clan gunn and clan keith of north america, peacefully. Much of the stonework from castle gunn was used to build a causeway at a nearby harbour. William followed him a bit later and these gunns became the henderson gunns of caithness. The origins of the clan gunn and their place in history scottish clan minibook harry conroy on. The clan gunn claims descent from the norse jarls or earls of orkney and from the ancient celtic mormaers of caithness through ragnhild, daughter of moddan in dale, son of moddan, mormaer high steward of caithness, who was killed in 1040, and granddaughter of saint. Whether youre already an expert in family history or just starting out, the clan gunn society is a great way to meet other likeminded people, to share research and to bring your family history alive. Clan gunn is a highland clan, most commonly associated with the northeastern areas of sutherland and caithness. Alastair gunn clan gunn history books and postal history books. Curle inventory of ancient monuments of caithness hmso 1911. The gunns have a far simpler past than that which is currently claimed for example, the gunns do not have a chief link to the orkney islands and there were no clan gunn chiefs. His eldest son started the machamish gunns of killernan line many descendants from that line exist all around the world. A new clan gunn history thought people would like to know i have just published a paperback version of my book the gunns, history, myths and genealogy. The origins of the clan gunn and their place in history. It is the first gunn history text in over fifty years and the first ever to use the sutherland estate papers in the national library of scotland.
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