Clan and Societies Information

A Bit of Clan Gunn History:

Our ancestors were mixed in origin. The earliest known inhabitants of the area were the Picts, later mixed with Celts, Scots, Teutons, Normans, Norse and others. Practically without exception, the Highland Clans’ chiefly lines claim descent from the Norse Vikings. Clan Gunn is no exception. The surname Gunn derives from Gun, Gunnar, or Gunni (depending upon the interpretation of the historian) who was a grandson of Sweyn, the Pirate of Freswick, whose family ruled the earldoms of Orkney and Caithness during the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries. The modern lineage and sept families stem from George Gunn, the Crowner of Caithness, born in the first decade of the 15th century and slain with several of his clansmen at the Chapel of St. Tears, near Ackergill, in July,1478.

The first Clan Gunn Society was founded in 1821 but drifted into the doldrums for the next century and a quarter. About 40 years ago the Clan Gunn Society was reactivated in Scotland and the United Kingdom. In 1969, in North Carolina, the Clan Gunn Society of North America was organized with membership open to all Gunns and related Sept Names residing in North America.

Currently, Chuck Franz is the President of CGSNA and Iain Alexander Gunn of Gunn, formerly of Banniskirk, is the Chief of Clan Gunn following a decision by the Lord Lyon in September,2015. Under the guidance of Iain and his wife, Bunty, the Clan Gunn Society acquired a Clan Heritage Centre at Latheron, Caithness, which provides a place to gather memorabilia with Clan significance, house Clan genealogical records and provide a focal point to be considered the ancestral home of the Clan.

We are proud of our Scottish Viking history!

For detailed Clan Gunn history: Clan Gunn History

Clan Gunn website address: www.clangunn.us