| Clan Gunn | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Na Guinnich[1] | |||
 | |||
| Motto | Aut pax aut bellum (Either peace or war)[2] | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Highlands | ||
| District | Sutherland andCaithness[2] | ||
| Plant badge | Juniper[2] | ||
| Pipe music | Failte na’n Guinnach(The Gunns' Salute)[2][3] | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| John Gunnof that Ilk | |||
| The Gunn of Gunn | |||
| Historic seat | Gunn's Castle (Clyth Castle)[4] | ||
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Clan Gunn (Scottish Gaelic:Na Guinnich) is aHighlandScottish clan associated with lands in northeastern Scotland, includingCaithness,Sutherland and, arguably, theOrkney Isles. Clan Gunn is one of the oldest Scottish Clans, being descended from the NorseJarls of Orkney and thePictishMormaers of Caithness.
The traditional origin of the Clan Gunn is that the progenitor of the clan was oneGunni who came toCaithness at the end of the 12th century when his wife, Ragnhild, inherited the estates from her brother,Harald Maddadsson who was theEarl of Orkney.[8] His wife descended fromSt Ragnvald, who was the founder of theSt Magnus Cathedral inKirkwall, Orkney.[8]Gunni, whose name meantwar, was allegedly descended fromViking adventurers and his grandfather wasSweyn who was killed in a raid onDublin in 1171.[8] Smibert, however, states that the Gunns were ofGaelic origin.[9] Further information on the Norse origins of Clan Gunn can be found in an article written by Michael James Gunn, quotingSir Robert Gordon'sA Genealogical History of The Earldom of Sutherland from the 17th century: "Sir Robert Gordon, in researching genealogies for his work interviewed many of the heads of families in Sutherland, among them Alexander Gun of Kilearnan and Navidale, 4th Mackeamish, who died in 1655. From him he learned that Mackeamish's familyare called Clan-Gun from one called Gun, whom they allege to have been the king of Denmarke his sone, and came many dayes agoe from Denmark, and settled himself in Catteynes. The significance of this statement is made clear when it is remembered that, in Sir Robert Gordon's time, the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway were united under the Danish crown. However, the ancient Gaelicsennachies described the Gunns as Lochlannaich, or Norwegians, not Danes, because at the time of their forebear's arrival in Orkney and Caithness, Norway was a separate kingdom and not united with Denmark until the Union of Kalmar in 1391.[10]
The first 'chief' of the Clan Gunn to appear in historical records definitively was George Gunn, who was thecrouner or coroner of Caithness during the 15th century.[8] The later Celtic patronymic of the Gunn chiefs may have beenMacSheumais Chataich, however 'George' Gunn was widely known asAm Braisdeach Mor which means thegreat brooch-wearer.[8] This was due to the insignia that was worn by him as coroner.[8] George is said to have held court at his Clyth Castle in such splendor that it would rival any Highland chief.[8]
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TheBattle of Harpsdale was fought in 1426 where the Clan Gunn fought an inconclusive battle with theClan Mackay.[11]
The Gunn's traditional enemies were theClan Keith, who from their Ackergill Castle, challenged the Gunn chiefs for both political needs and for land.[8] In one such feud it was claimed that Dugald Keith coveted Helen, daughter of Gunn of Braemor.[8] The girl resisted Keith's advances but on learning that she was to be married to another man, he surrounded her father's house, slew many of the inhabitants and carried the girl to Ackergill Castle where she threw herself from the tower, rather than submitting to her kidnapper.[8] The Gunns retaliated and repeatedly raided the Keith's territory; however, they suffered defeat in 1438 or 1464 at theBattle of Tannach.[8] Both sides having suffered considerable losses agreed to meet and settle their differences in what is known as theBattle of Champions, where each side was to bring twelve horses.[8] However, the Keiths arrived with two warriors on each horse and slaughtered the outnumbered Gunns.[8] This was in turn avenged by the chief's remaining son James who killed Keith of Ackergill and his son at Drummoy.[8]
In 1517 the Clan Gunn supported theClan Sutherland in defeating the Clan Mackay at theBattle of Torran Dubh.[12]
Alistair Gunn, son of John Robson Gunn, had become a man of much note and power in the North. He had married the daughter ofJohn Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland and for this reason "he felt entitled to hold his head high amongst the best in Scotland". His pride, or perhaps his loyalty to the Earl of Sutherland, led to his undoing when in 1562, he led Gordon's retinue and encounteredJames Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, and his followers on the High Street ofAberdeen. The Earl of Moray was the bastard half-brother ofMary, Queen of Scots, as well as the son-in-law ofWilliam Keith, 4th Earl Marischal, chief of Clan Keith. It was the custom at the time to yield thoroughfares to the personage of greater rank, and in refusing to yield the middle of the street to Stewart and his train, Alistair publicly insulted the Earl. Stewart soon afterward had him pursued to a place called Delvines, near Nairn. There he was captured byAndrew Munro of Milntown and taken to Inverness, and following a mock trial, he was executed.[13][14]
In the late 16th century the Gunns were involved in a number of feuds against theEarl of Sutherland andEarl of Caithness.[8] In 1586 at theBattle of Allt Camhna the Clan Gunn was victorious but they were defeated shortly afterward by a massive force at theBattle of Leckmelm.[15]
During the 17th century the Clan Gunn strengthened their links with theClan Mackay when Gunn of Kilearnan married Mary Mackay, sister ofLord Reay, chief of Clan Mackay.[8] The next Gunn chief married Lord Reay's daughter.[8]
Another branch of the clan, the Gunns of Bramore, who descend from Robert, a younger son ofAm Braisdeach Mor, were generally known as the Robson Gunns.[8] Sir William Gunn, brother of the Robson chief, despite being Catholic, served in the army of the Protestant king of Sweden, and rose to command a battalion.[8] He later fought forCharles I and received a knighthood in 1639.[8] He later returned to the Continent where he served theHoly Roman Empire and married a German baroness.[8] He became an imperial general and was created baron of the Holy Roman Empire in 1649.[8]
The Gunns as a Clan did not support the Stuarts and fought for the British Government during theJacobite rising of 1745.[8] Alexander Gunn, chief of the Clan Gunn, was a Captain of anIndependent Highland Company that fought for the British Government.[16]
Gunns did independently fight for the Bonnie Prince and a list can be found in the publication No Quarter Given, the muster roll of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's Army 1745–46.
Gunns were heavily drawn upon for the 79thQueen's Own Cameron Highlanders regiment during the French revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.[17]
The current Chief of Clan Gunn is Chief John Gunn of Gunn, who succeeded his father Chief Iain Gunn of Gunn who passed in October 2024.
Previously, on 25 September 2015, the Lord Lyon King of Arms for Scotland issued aninterlocutor recognizing Iain Alexander Gunn of Banniskirk as Chief of Clan Gunn, so that he became Iain Gunnof that Ilk, Chief of Clan Gunn. At a Family Convention, held in Orkney on 18 July 2015, a petition to the Lyon Court requesting this recognition had been approved and sent to the Lyon for action. For the first time in 230 years the Clan had a recognized Chief. Iain had previously served as Commander of Clan Gunn for over forty-three years.[18] Iain Gunn of Gunn died on 9 October 2024.[19] As mention he was succeeded by his son John Gunn of Gunn.[20]
Iain Alexander Gunn of Banniskirk was appointed the secondCommander of Clan Gunn, by commission ofLord Lyon on 9 June 1972.[21] He was Secretary of the Clan Gunn UK Society on its establishment in 1961. The first Commander was his paternal uncle, William Gunn of Banniskirk, who held the title from 1967 to 1968.
In 1978, the previous Chief of Clan Keith and the then Commander of Clan Gunn signed a peace treaty at the site of theChapel of St. Tayrs, ending the feud between the two clans which began in 1478.[22]
The Gunn tartan is found in 'weathered', 'ancient', 'muted', and 'modern' colourings.A picture of the Tartan[1]
Quoting: Gunn, Mark Rugg (1969). 'History of the Clan Gunn'. p. 268
![[1]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fweb.archive.org%2fweb%2f20110713150607%2fhttp%3a%2f%2fkiltrental.com%2fkilt%2520rental%2520Modern%2520Gunn%2520tartan.jpg){kind=link}