Clan Gunn

Clan Gunn is a Highland Scottish clan hailing from the Northern Scottish districts of  Sutherland and Caithness.  It is considered to be one of the oldest of the Scottish Clans, believed to be descended from the Norse of Orkney Island and the Picts of Northern Scotland.

The Motto of Clan Gunn is Aut pax aut bellum, meaning, either peace or war.  The crest of Clan Gunn is represented by An arm attired, with the hand grasping a basket hilt sword.

The historic seat of Clan Gunn is Castle Gunn,  located in Bruan, Caithness.

The Clan is presumed to stretch back as far as twelve eighty with a man named Ottar, who was presumed to be the first chief.  George Gunn, who lived in the 15th century was the first recorded chief of Clan Gunn.

The Gunn’s frequently fueded with the surrounding clans in Northern Scotland.  The Gunn’s chief rivals were members of the Clan Keith.  The most famous battle between these two families was called, the Battle of champions.  It took place in the late fourteen hundreds.  The battle was arranged to settle the dispute between the clans.  The battle was suppose to be between 12 men on horseback representing each clan, however the Keith Clan double crossed the Gunns and arrived with 24 men,  they slaughter the 12 Gunn soldiers.  It was said that the fued between these rivals lasted 500 years until a treaty of friendship was signed between the two clans in 1978.

In  1785 Chief Morrison Gunn died leaving no heir.  The Gunn clan society began searching for a new chief in 1860, and met little success, until 2015, when the Lord Lyon King of Arms recognized Iain Alexander Gunn as the first chief in 230 years.

The Clan Gunn heritage Centre is located in Latheron, Scotland.  The museum is housed in a church build in 1734.  The Church was donated to the Gunn society in 1974 and the heritage centre was officially opened to the public in 1985.

Septs. and Dependents – Gallic, Gaunson, Georgeson, Hendersons, Jamiesons, Johnsons, Keene, Keans, MacComas, MacCorkills, Maclans, MacKames, MacKeans, MacOmish, MacRobs, MacWilliams, Mansons, Nelsons, Robisons, Sandisons, Swansons, Williamsons and Wilsons of Caithness.

Further Reading:

Clan Feud: Clan Gunn vs. Clan Keith