Gunn

Gunn

Clan Gunn of Banniskirk, Scotland. Descended from Gunni, a Norse warrior, who married Ragnhild, granddaughter of Harald I, Jarl of Orkney, and settled in Caithness when she inherited lands from her brother, Harald II of Orkney. The first recorded chief of Clan Gunn , or Macsheumais Chataich as they were called, was George Gunn, Coroner of Caithness in the 15th century. The clan was well known for their feuds with Clan Keith. During the feud, Dugald Keith of Ackergill led an attack on the house of Gunn of Braemor, slew the inhabitants and kidnapped the daughter, Helen for his wife; but she threw herself from the tower of Ackergill rather than submit to him. After the Keiths were defeated by the Gunns at Tannach Moor in 1438 and at Dirlot in 1464, they sought for a battle of champions by which each side would bring twelve horse. The Keiths though put two men on each horse and the Gunns were slaughtered, including the chief and four of his sons. The remaining son, James, revenged his father by killing Keith of Ackergill and his son at Drummoy. Sir William Gunn of Braemore, known as the Robson Gunns, fought for the King of Sweden, and later for Charles I of England and Scotland during the Civil War. He married a German noble and was created a Baron of the Holy Roman Empire in 1649. In 1745, the Gunns fought against the Jacobite Rising. Since the 10th chief died without issue in the 19th century, there has been no chief, and the clan is led by a commander.

Arms: Argent, on a sea in base undy azure, a three-masted ship gules, flagged of Scotland (Azure, a saltire argent) sails furled proper, on a chief gules, a buckle between two mullets pierced or.

Crest: A dexter cubit arm attired in the proper tartan of clan Gunn, the hand proper grasping a basket-hilted sword blade gules, hilted argent.

Motto: Aut pax aut bellum (Either peace or war).

Badge: With in a chaplet of juniper an arm naked, the hand proper grasping a basket hilted sword, blade gules, hilted argent.

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