| Clan Hannay | |||
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| Motto | Per Ardua Ad Alta (Through difficulties to Heaven)[1][2] | ||
| Profile | |||
| Plant badge | Periwinkle | ||
| Chief | |||
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| Dr. David R. Hannay of Kirkdale and of that Ilk, 16th Baron of Kirkdale, Baron of Maxwell of Cardoness | |||
| Chief of the Name and Arms of Hannay | |||
| Historic seat | Sorbie Tower | ||
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Clan Hannay is a LowlandScottish clan.[1]
The Hannays are from the ancient princedom ofGalloway.[1] The name appears to have originally been speltAhannay but its origin is uncertain.[1] It could derive from theScottish Gaelic UltimatelyIrish GaelicO'Hannaidh orAp Shenaeigh.[1]
In 1296, Gilbert de Hannethe appears on theRagman Rolls submitting toEdward I of England.[1] This could be the same Gilbert who acquired the lands of Sorbie.[1] The Hannays were suspicious ofRobert the Bruce's ambitions and instead supported the claim ofJohn Balliol.[1] Balliol was descended from theCeltic Princes of Galloway through his mother, Lady Devorgilla.[1]
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the Hannays extended their influence over the surrounding area including the building ofSorbie Tower which remained the seat of the Clan Chief until the seventeenth century.[1]
At the beginning of the 17th century the Clan Hannay was locked in a deadly feud with theClan Murray of Broughton.[1] It resulted in the Hannays being outlawed.[1] The consequences of this were that many Hannays emigrated toUlster, where the name is still found in large numbers inCounty Antrim,County Down andCounty Armagh.[1]
Patrick Hannay had a distinguished military career and was patronised by QueenElizabeth of Bohemia, daughter ofJames VI of Scotland and sister ofCharles I of England.[1] After the death ofQueen Anne who was the wife of James VI in 1619, Patrick Hannay composed two eulogies and in return had many published on his own death, one of which said: 'Go on in virtue, aftertimes will tell, none but Hannay could have done so well'.[1]
Possibly the best known Hannay was James Hannay, the Dean ofSt Giles' inEdinburgh who had the claim to fame of being the target ofJenny Geddes' stool.[1] In an infamous incident in 1637 the Dean had begun to read the new liturgy when with a cry of "Thou false thief, dost thou say Mass at my lug?" was heard and a stool came flying from the congregation, thrown by an incensed Jenny Geddes. The incident began a full-scale riot which took the town guard to control.[1]
Sir Robert Hannay ofMochrum was created a Baronet ofNova Scotia In 1630.[1] From the Sorbie roots the Hannays of Grennan, Knock, Garrie and Kingsmuir also evolved.[1]
In 1582, Alexander Hannay, a younger son of the chief, Hannay of Sorbie, purchased the lands of Kirkdale which were in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright.[1] His son was John Hannay of Kirkdale, who established the line which is today recognised by theLord Lyon King of Arms as the chief of the name and arms of Hannay.[1]
A younger son of Hannay of Kirkdale wasAlexander Hannay who was a professional soldier, administrator and adventurer, who amassed a substantial personal fortune in 18th CenturyIndia, rising to the rank of colonel.[1] His elder brother was Sir Samuel Hannay of Kirkdale, who succeeded to the title and estates of his kinsman, Sir Robert Hannay of Mochrum, Baronet.[1] The next Baronet was Sir Samuel Hannay, who entered the service of theHabsburg Emperors and built himself a mansion on his family lands.[1] It is this mansion which is said to have provided the inspiration forWalter Scott's novel,Guy Mannering.[1] Sir Samuel died in 1841 and the estate passed to his sister, Mary, and from her to her nephew, William Ransford Hannay, from whom the present chief is descended.[1]
Clan chief: Chief Ramsay William Rainsford Hannay of Kirkdale and of that Ilk died on 10 January 2004 at Gatehouse-of-Fleet, Scotland, and was succeeded by his son, Dr. David R. Hannay of Kirkdale and of that Ilk, 16thBaron of Kirkdale,[3][4]Baron of Maxwell of Cardoness,[5] Chief of Clan Hannay.
In 1965 the ancient clan seat,Sorbie Tower, was presented to the clan trust and a maintenance scheme was put in place.[1]
