Motto: Aut Pax Aut Bellum; translated literally as “Either peace or war”, colloquially translated as “In peace and war” or, alternatively, with the raised sword of the crest, as “Stand ready for peace or war.”
Origin
The origin of the name Gunn is Norwegian. The word “Gunni” i
n the Old Norwegian language means “War” or “Battle.”
It is believed that a member of Clan Gunn was among the party of Henry Sinclair, a Scottish Earl whom some believe to have made a voyage to the New World in 1398, traveling to Nova Scotia and New England. This individual is believed to have perished on this expedition and is also known as the Westford Knight. Often, it is claimed by enthusiasts devoted to this tale that the knight is Sir James Gunn, who reportedly traveled with Sinclair. There is no documentary evidence to support this theory.
15th century and clan conflicts
The origin of the name Gunn is Norwegian. The word “Gunni” in the Old Norwegian language means “War” or “Battle”. The Battle of Harpsdale was fought in 1426. The Clan Gunn fought an inconclusive battle with the Clan Mackay.[1]
The Battle of Tannach was fought in 1464. It was fought between the Clan Keith, assisted by the Clan Mackay against the Clan Gunn. The inhabitants of Caithness assembled an army and met the Mackays and Keiths at a place in Caithness called Blair-tannie. There ensued a cruel fight, with slaughter on either side. In the end the Keiths and Mackays had the victory by means chiefly of John Mor MacIan-Riabhaich (an Assynt man), who was very famous in these countries for his courage shown at this conflict. Two chieftains of Caithness were slain. Angus Mackay would later be defeated by Clan Ross.[2][3]
The Battle of Champions was fought in 1478 between twelve men of the Clan Gunn and twenty four men of the Clan Keith where the chief of Clan Gunn was killed (reputedly, the agreement was for “twelve horse” of each clan to meet and parley, and the Keiths arrived with two men on each horse). The chief of the Clan Keith was also soon after killed by the Gunns in a revenge attack at the chapel of St. Tears.[4]
In later years William MacKames Gunn, grandson of George Gunn, ambushed chief George Keith, his son and ten of their retainers as they were traveling at Drummoy in Sutherland. All of the Keiths were killed by the Gunns. It was around this time a large majority of the Gunns, under James Gunn, removed from Caithness into Sutherland.[5]
16th century and clan conflicts
In 1517 the Clan Gunn supported the Clan Sutherland in defeating the Clan Mackay at the Battle of Torran Dubh.[6]
Alistair Gunn, son of John Robson Gunn, chief of the clan, had become a man of much note and power in the North. He had married the daughter of John Gordon the Earl of Sutherland and for this reason “he felt entitled to hold his head high amongst the best in Scotland”. His pride, or perhaps his loyalty to the Earl of Sutherland, led to his undoing when in 1562, he led Gordon’s retinue and encountered James Stewart, Earl of Moray, and his followers on the High Street of Aberdeen. The Earl was the bastard half-brother of Mary, Queen of Scots, as well as the son-in-law of William Keith, 4th Earl Marischal, the head of Clan Keith. It was the custom at the time to yield thoroughfares to the personage of greater rank, and in refusing to yield the middle of the street to Stewart and his train, Alistair publicly insulted the Earl. Stewart soon afterwards had him pursued to a place called Delvines, near Nairn. There he was captured and taken to Inverness, and following a mock trial, he was executed.[7]
In 1586 at the Battle of Allt Camhna the Clan Gunn was victorious but they were defeated shortly afterwards by a massive force at the Battle of Leckmelm.[8]
17th century and Civil War
The most notable of the Gunns after the differentiation of the Clan was Sir William Gunn, who fought under Charles I, and was knighted by him. After Charles’ cause failed, William crossed to Europe, and served in the army of the Holy Roman Empire, became an imperial general and married a German baroness. Much of the clan, however, had to forfeit their lands due to debt at about this time. The Gunns of Killearnan were fortunate enough to obtain new land at Badenloch.
18th century and Jacobite uprisings
Unlike some highland clans, the Gunns did not rise under the standard of the Stuarts during the Jacobite rebellions, and indeed supported the government in the conflict of 1745 along with other Highland clans such as Clan Munro, Clan Campbell, Clan Mackay, Clan Sutherland and Clan Ross. The Clan Gunn came out for the government, led by the MacKeamish. There were about 120 men under arms. They were attached to the Earl of Loudon’s regiment.
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