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Clan Gunn

AUT PAX AUT BELLUM


Clan Gunn is a Highland clan, most commonly associated with the northeastern areas of Sutherland and Caithness. As one of the oldest Scottish clans, the Gunns can trace their heritage to the Vikings and the Norse Jarls of Orkney.

Noted for their ferocious fighting spirit and character, clan Gunn are perhaps most well known for a long-standing feud with clan Keith, borne out political conflicts and a need for land. The feud only officially ended in 1978 after around five hundred years.

The Gunn clan motto is "Aut pax aut bellum" (Either peace or war) and the clan crest is a hand holding a sword.

Scottish History

of Clan Gunn


Viking warriors

The Clan Gunn originated around the end of the twelfth century. They claim to be descended from Olaf the Black, Norse King of Man and the Isles who died in 1237.

Olaf’s second son Gunni came to Scotland towards the end of the twelfth century. The name Gunni meant ‘war’ which befitted the Norse prince who is described in the annals of history as a great Viking warrior. He married Ragnhild, sister of Harald, Jarl of Orkney, whose wife was descended from St. Ragnvald, founder of the great cathedral of St. Magnus at Kirkwall. Ragnhild inherited estates in Caithness from her brother and it was there she and Gunni settled.

The clan territory, with its roots in Caithness, lay on the border between the lands of the Earls of Sutherland and the Earls of Caithness, while to the west lay Strathnaver, the territory of the Mackays or Lord Reays country.

The Gunns extended their territory at the expense of their neighbours until the fifteenth century when the tables were turned on them and they were driven from their territories by the surrounding clans. The Gunns fled from Caithness and settled on the lands of Kildonan in Sutherland.

George Gunn Crouner, or Coroner, of Caithness in the fifteenth century is the first person to appear in records credited with the title Clan Chief. The proper Celtic patronymic of the Gunn Chiefs was Mac Sheumais Chataich, but George Gunn was better known as Am Braisdeach Mor, The Great Brooch Wearer, so called after the insignia he wore as coroner. He lived in great splendour in his castle at Clyth and held court there in a manner that rivalled any of the Highland Chiefs.

Bitter enemies

The Gunns were the sworn enemies of the Keiths, who challenged them both in the influence they wielded and the land they ruled. The Keiths held sway from their stronghold, Akergill Castle.

The constant feuding between the two clans was bloody, with both sides suffering heavy losses. Power and wealth were the underlying motivation for the bloodshed but both claimed moral justification for their deeds.

The fate of Helen, daughter of Gunn of Braemor who was much admired by Dugald Keith is a prime example of this behaviour. Helen Gunn completely rebuffed all Dugald’s overtures and instead agreed to be married to another man. On hearing this a jealous Dugald promptly laid siege to her family home, killing many of the inhabitants, and abducted the poor girl, imprisoning her in Ackergill Castle. The episode ended in tragedy when Helen Gunn in desperation threw herself from the tower rather than submit to Dugald Keith’s demands.

The Gunns continued to raid Keith territory but they suffered defeats in 1438 at the battle of Tannach Moor and again in 1464 at Dirlot in Strathmore. However both clans sustained considerable losses and eventually agreed to settle their differences by having a battle of champions.

A remote spot in Strathmore was chosen for the fight to the death. It was agreed that only 12 horse should represent each Clan

The Gunns arrived at the agreed spot to be confronted by double their number. The wily Keiths had mounted two men to each horse thus outnumbering their opponents two to one. This trickery enraged the Gunns who despite their disadvantage hurled themselves at the Keiths in a fury, giving good account of themselves. Both sides fought till they could fight no longer. At the end of the battle Coroner George and four of his sons lay dead.

James, the Coroner’s only surviving son, succeeded his father as Chief, but had to flee Caithness with his clan to Sutherland, where their chief dwelling was Killernan in the parish of Kildonan.

It is from James the patronymic of Mac-Sheumais or MacKeamish (that is, the son of James) was derived which then became the Gaelic sept name of the chief.

Almost one hundred years later James’s son, William, avenged his grandfather’s death by killing Keith of Akergill, his son and twelve followers at Drummoy in Sutherland.

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Family History Mini Book


We hope you enjoyed reading this excerpt from this mini book on the Scottish history of the Gunn family.

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124 Clan Gunn

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The Crests

of Clan Gunn

Clan Gunn
Clan Gunn
Clan Gunn
Clan Gunn
Clan Gunn
Clan Gunn

69 Clan Gunn

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Divisions

of Gunn

Gallie
Ganson
Georgeson
Henderson
Jamieson
Johnson
Keene
MacIan
MacKean
MacManus
MacOmish
MacRob
MacWilliam
Magnus
Main
Mann
Manson
Neilson
Robb
Robinson
Swan
Swanney
Swanson
Wills
Wilson
Wylie
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Spellings

of Gunn

Gunni
Gun

191 Clan Gunn

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