CLAN GUNN CHIEFSHIP
The last undisputed Chief of Clan Gunn died in 1785 and there have been several attempts to find our rightful chief. None of the present claimants has been able over the past 25 years to provide an undisputed right to the Chiefship and a number of leading members of the Clan have recently petitioned the Lord Lyon King of Arms to summon a Family Convention - a modern form of Derbhfine - to appoint our Commander, Iain A Gunn of Banniskirk, as Chief. Lyon has now replied to the petition on his website by saying that he proposes in the near future to appoint an Officer to supervise a Gunn Family Convention. Watch this space- and the Lord Lyon website.
Welcome to the Clan Gunn and the Clan Gunn Society website.
The Clan Gunn is one of the oldest Scottish Clans descended from the Norse Jarls of Orkney and the Pictish Mormaers of Caithness. The Clan was originally based on the east coast of Caithness, but from the fifteenth century the senior line settled in the Strath of Kildonan in north east Sutherland; the Robson Gunns had their seat in Braemore in south east Caithness and the third main family established themselves in Cattaig and Dalemore on the upper reaches of the River Thurso.
Today there are members of the Clan in the UK, France, the Netherlands, South Africa, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and thriving Clan Gunn Societies in the UK, New Zealand, Nova Scotia and North America. I have appointed two personal Commissioners to represent me abroad - Rob Kamp-Gunn, a former president of the Clan Gunn Society who is my representative in the Netherlands and Rich Gunn, immediate past president of the Clan Gunn Society of North America, who is my representative in North America.
We are proud of our Clan Heritage Centre at Latheron in Caithness based in the old Parish Church of Latheron which has provided a focal point for the Clan since it opened in 1985.
Our clan archive is one of the most comprehensive, thanks to the work of Dr. Colin Gunn, Sandy Gunn and our current clan genealogist Abb Gunn of Alpharetta, Georgia, USA.
The 2011 Mini Gathering was held in Caithness from Friday, 29th to Sunday 31st July. We started with a family day at the Clan Gunn Heritage Centre at Latheron on the afternoon of Friday the 29th July. The Clan Society held its AGM on the morning of Saturday 30th July and subseqently welcomed members of the Clan to its reception tent at the Halkirk games in the afternoon. This was followed by a Clann dinner in the evening. The Gathering ended with a service on Sunday 31st July at Kildonan Church, where the descriptive panels on the history of the church and the Clan's association with it are now in place. The panels which were provided by the Clan Gunn's Heritage Trust Church Fund can be viewed at the church throughout the summer.
This year the St Donan's Day dinner was held in London and a full account will be given in the June Herald. The Council is now planning the next International Gathering which will be held from Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th July 2012. The Gathering will start in Kirkwall, Orkney and include visits to the historic sites associated with our Viking ancestors and a service at St. Magnus Cathedral. The Clan will sail across the Pentland Firth to Caithness on Tuesday 24th July for a full programme of guided tours to the Clan Gunn lands, a ceilidh, dinner dance and formal Clan Dinner in Thurso. The Gathering will end with a service at Kildonan Church on Sunday 29th July. Full details and booking information can be found by clicking on the "2012 Gathering" link at the top of this page.
I hope that as many members of the Clan as possible will be able to join us for our 17th International Gathering
With all good wishes