The Chiefs of Clan Gunn
The Clan Gunn was from the Caithness, Orkney, and Sutherland areas of Scotland. Caithness and Sutherland were originally known as Cait, possibly a tribal name in reference to the cat. In the same way Orkney is said to come from orc (a member of the boar family). The people that lived in these areas were known as Picts. Slowly they were mingled with Celts from Ireland and eventually Norse Vikings made their way into the population. We can trace our ancestry back to a Viking by the name of Hrolf (Rolf, Rolfus, or Rollo). We know very little about Hrolf. We do know however that he lived on the island of Gairsay in the Orkneys and he had a son named Olaf. Olaf Hrolfson (also known as Olaf of Gairsay) was written about in the Orkneyinga Saga. Olaf Hrolfson was a Viking chieftain under Earl Paul of Orkney. In 1136 a Viking by the name of Olvir burned Olaf to death with five of his men in his home at Duncansby, Caithness. Olaf's oldest son Valthiof also died in 1136 when he was lost at sea. In 1155 Olaf's second son Gunni had an illegitimate child with Margaret, Countess of Atholl, when her son Harold the Wicked found out he banished Gunni. Supposedly Gunni fled to the island of Lewis. We do not know what became of Gunni or his illegitimate child. This brings us to Olaf's last son Sweyn.
Sweyn has been referred to as "The Ultimate Viking" and "The Pirate of Freswick". He was quite a character and we know a lot about him from the accounts of his adventures. Sweyn married Ragnhild, daughter of Ogmund, and they had his first son Olaf. Ingirid the daughter of Thorkell, a Manx chieftain, married Sweyn and had his second son Andres. Sweyn died in 1171 while sacking Dublin. Sweyn's sons Olaf and Andres inherited a vast amount of wealth from their father when he died. They split the wealth in half and put up a partition in the middle of Sweyn's great drinking hall on the island of Gairsay. Little was written about Olaf Sweynson and it is assumed that he died without issue. Andres Sweynson married Frida, daughter of Kolbein Hruga, and had three sons Kolbein, Rolf Ketling and Gunni. This youngest son Gunni is said to be the progenitor of the Clan Gunn. Gunni married Ragnhild, daughter of Eric Stagbrell, and had two sons Snaekoll and Andrew. Gunni's marriage to Ragnhild is important because she was a widow of Lifolf Baldpate and she inherited the chieftainship of the Moddan Clan and their lands as well as some in Caithness. Ragnhild was a descendant of the Earls of Orkney. She was related to Saint Magnus, Saint Rognvald, Thorfinn the Skullspliter, Sigurd the Stout, and Thorfinn the Mighty. When Gunni died Snaekoll became head of the Moddan Family and was in position for the Earldom of Orkney. Unfortunately Snaekoll did not manage to acquire the Orkneys, for in 1272 King Hakon of Norway ruled against Snaekoll and imprisoned him. While Snaekoll was in Norway, his rights to the Moddan family and their lands were forfeited. Later when Snaekoll was liberated and went back to his lands in Caithness he became known as "The Great Gunn of Ulbster". Snaekoll had a son named Ottar who took over. It is not clear what lands in Caithness were held during this early period of the clan. From Ottar onward the history of the chiefs becomes uncertain until we enter the 15th century.
It is at this time that one of the greatest chiefs lived, George Gunn the Crowner. The Crowner had many sons and many of the surnames associated to the Clan Gunn come from these sons. He had seven sons James, Robert, John, Torquil, William, Alexander, and Henry. The Clan Gunn was sometimes described as the northern counterparts of the Clan MacGregor because of their fierce warlike nature. They were often at odds with their neighbors the MacKays, Sutherlands, and Sinclairs. The hatred for these three clans failed in comparison to the Clan Gunn's archenemy the Keiths. In 1464 George the Crowner and George Keith of Ackergill decided to have one last fight to settle their differences. It was agreed upon that each side would meet with twelve cavalry. The Keiths showed up with two men on each horse. Unfortunately the Crowner was killed with many of his men. Some of the Crowner's sons survived and took revenge later on George Keith. The Gunns and the Keiths fought over lands for many years and it was not until July 28, 1978 that Commander Iain Gunn of Banniskirk and Lord Kintore, Chief of the Keiths, signed a treaty. After the death of the Crowner the oldest son James became chief. From James descends the MacHamish line of chiefs. First came his son William who led the Clan at the battle of Torran Dubh. Then comes Alexander probably the first to reside at Killearnan. William Mor came next, Mor being Gaelic for big. John of Navidale was then chief from about 1615 to 1660. His son Alexander came next. Alexander was married twice. The second marriage bore him a son by the name of Donald who would succeed him. Donald Crottach, as he was known, was chief until 1723 when his son Captain Alexander took over. Captain Alexander had three sons from two marriages and died in 1763. He outlived his first son and his other two sons, William and Morrison, died in 1780 and 1782 respectively. The MacHamish line came to an end.
Commander Iain Gunn of Banniskirk revived the Clan Gunn Society in 1960. In 1969 the Clan Gunn Society of North America was started at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. In 1972 the Lord Lyon appointed Iain Gunn of Banniskirk as Commander of Clan Gunn until such time as the chief could be determined.
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Sources:
Gunn, Mark Rugg, "History of Clan Gunn", Scotpress, 1997
Translated by Palsson and Edwards, "Orkneyinga Saga", Penguin Group, 1978
MacKinnon, Charles, "Scottish Highlanders", Marboro Books, 1992
McNie, Alan, "Your Clan Heritage Clan Gunn", Cascade, 1989
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