This page honours my father. He came from a hereditary line of MacCorkill's who were in both Clan Gunn and MacLeod of Lewis. He was a brilliant man, and well loved man.

CLAN GUNN HISTORY
'Mac Sheumais Chataich'.

Concise History of Clan Gunn of Scotland

by Scone,.....taken from books and my studies of two Lord Lyons' interested enough to study the Highland Clans: R. Bain and Innes of Learney, Presented by N. MacCorkill, F.S.A. Scot, student of R. Bain.

Gunn Archer
"The Gunns Were Known For Their Excellent Bowmenship."

Clan Gunn, (MacCorkill sept of Clan MacLeod of Lewis), clans of my father, thus also my clans......Scone.

This history is a concise history with the necessary information. For a full history read Robert Gunn's History, on the Enter-The-Book menu page.

Clansmen's Crest: A dexter arm wielding a broadsord, proper.

Motto: Aut Pax Aut Bellum (Either peace or war.)

Gaelic Name: Guinne

Gunns were of Norse descent.

Origin of Name: Norse - gunn-arr. (viking)

Badge: Juniper. (Worn in hat to identify their own clan members, and allies during feuds.)

Pipe Music: The Gunn's Salute.

Gunn lands stretched from the Caithness to the Kildonan district of Sutherland.

SEPTS, (or member names) of CLAN GUNN:(for an explanation of septs, read Septs, What Are They?', this site.

Original Ancient Septs:

Enrick -- Galdie -- Gallie -- Ganson -- Gauldie -- Gaunson -- Georgeson -- GUNN -- Henderson -- Inrig -- Jameson -- Jamieson -- Johnson -- Kean -- Keene -- MacCorkill -- MacCorkle -- MacCullie -- MacIan -- MacKames --MacKeamish -- MacKean -- MacMains -- MacManus -- MacOmish -- MacOomas -- MacRob -- MacWilliam -- Mangus -- Main -- Mann -- Manson -- Manus -- Neilson -- Nelson -- Robinson -- Robson -- Robison -- Sandison -- Swan -- Swanney -- Swanson -- Will -- Williamson -- Wills -- Wilson -- Wylie -- Wyllie.

(This list contains only the "original" members of Clan Gunn before the date of 1747, not names added due to marriage, or added at the whim of a commander, etc., only the original names.

(All Mac's and Mc's mean "son of" so they are spelled in lower and uppercase letters so that you can see the spelling). Some clans are not capitalized after the 'mac' and that is due to the name not originating with their birth. I'was their father's name.

All names with 'son' somewhere within the name, is Norse for "son of".

MacCorkill and MacCorkle are from the Viking name Torquil (one of 'Leod of Leod's' sons, its meaning is "Thor's Kettle"). Leod was ruler of parts of Skye, Lewis, Harris and several areas on the shore of the West Coast of Scotland. A Gunn daughter married a Torquil, thus bringing the name MacCorkill into the clan.

Happy hunting - hope you find your clan. A close spelling should be looked into as many records were verbal and whoever wrote them down may have changed the spelling. The area that your ancestors came from is the telling fact, because their are MacCorkills and Gunns in the Hebrides also.

We have still another theory, a history by Mark Rugg Gunn, a medical doctor, who has died within the recent years. They claim he also had a history degree, but that is new information they are putting out. I have my doubts. While Mark Rugg Gunn tried very hard to make a case for his history, written at the express desire by Clan Gunn!!! - the Lord Lyons has not terminated the Olaf the Black history in favor of any other. So, you best bet is the Olaf the Black History.

Clan Gunn sells Mark Rugg Gunn's book and "profits by it." I think that tells us why they want it to be accepted.

Page by N. MacCorkill Author, Poet,
Clans Gunn, MacLeod and Keith (Marshall)
http://www.sconemac.com
Historian of the Ancient Clans of Scotland

Sources: N. MacCorkill's own writings
R. Bain, Innes of Learney,
Lord Lyons Office, Agent of the Queen
Scottish Clans and Tartans
Standard Disclaimer

RETURN TO MAIN INDEX