Scottish Surnames of Clan Gunn – Origins, Tartans and Clan History

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Clan Gunn is one of Scotland’s oldest Norse clans. Their lands stretched across the wild, windswept country of Caithness and Sutherland. This is a clan born of Vikings, shaped by feud, and scattered to the world by the Highland Clearances.

If your family tree shows a Gunn, Henderson, Swanson, or Williamson from the far north of Scotland, you may well have Clan Gunn roots. This guide covers every main surname, the clan’s proud history, and the Caithness landscape your ancestors called home.

The Origins of Clan Gunn

Clan Gunn traces its roots to the Norse Vikings who settled in northern Scotland. The name comes from the Old Norse personal name “Gunni” or “Gunnar.” In Old Norse, “gunnr” means war. It was a name for fierce fighters.

A Norse warrior landed in Caithness around the 11th or 12th century. His descendants became the Gunns. Over the next few centuries, they grew into one of the most powerful clans in the far north of Scotland.

The Gunns were never the largest of the clans of Scotland. But they were fierce, proud, and loyal to their land. Their clan motto sums them up well. “Aut Pax Aut Bellum” means “Either Peace or War.” There was rarely much middle ground.

Caithness is one of Scotland’s most remote counties. Rocky coastlines, peat bogs, and open moorland stretch in every direction. The neighbouring county of Sutherland, whose own Clan Sutherland shared borders with the Gunns, is equally wild. This landscape shaped the Gunns. It made them tough and self-reliant.

Scottish Surnames of Clan Gunn

Many Scots carry a Clan Gunn surname today without knowing it. The clan gathered a wide family of septs under its banner. A sept is a branch family connected to the main clan. These families used different surnames but owed loyalty to the Gunn chiefs.

Here are the main Gunn surnames and their meanings:

Gunn – The primary clan name. It comes from the Old Norse name Gunni, meaning warrior or son of the warrior. You find it most often in Caithness and Sutherland.

Henderson – “Son of Henry.” This is one of the largest Gunn septs. Many Hendersons in Caithness trace their roots directly to the Gunn clan.

Williamson – “Son of William.” A common Gunn sept name found across the north of Scotland. Williamsons appear in Caithness parish records from the 16th century onwards.

Swanson – A Norse name meaning “son of Svan.” The name Svan itself comes from the Old Norse word for swan. It shows how deep the Viking influence ran in Clan Gunn.

Sandison – “Son of Alexander,” with Sandie being the Scottish nickname for Alexander. This name appears often in Caithness parish records. It remains a distinctly northern Scottish surname.

Johnson – “Son of John.” In the far north, many Johnsons belonged to the Gunn clan network.

Jameson / Jamieson – “Son of James.” This sept name remains common in Caithness today. It links back to the Gunn connection with the James family line.

Georgeson – “Son of George.” This name pays tribute to George Gunn, the famous Crowner of Caithness. More on him below.

Wilson – “Son of Will.” A widespread sept name with Gunn roots in the far north of Scotland.

Nelson – “Son of Neil.” Neil was a popular name among the Gunns. It links back to a 14th-century Gunn chief of that name.

MacCorkill – From the Norse name Thorkill. This name shows the Viking roots of the clan clearly. Thorkill was a common Norse personal name in Caithness.

MacHamish – “Son of Hamish,” the Scottish Gaelic form of James. You find this name in Caithness and Sutherland records.

MacWilliam – “Son of William.” Another form of the Williamson sept, using the Gaelic “Mac” prefix instead.

Robson / Robinson – “Son of Rob.” These names link to Gunn territory through old family ties and alliances.

Gallie – A surname still found in Caithness today. It connects to the older Gaelic-speaking communities within Gunn lands.

If any of these names appear in your family tree, you may have Clan Gunn blood. The best way to confirm this is to trace your Scottish ancestry using records held at ScotlandsPeople and the National Records of Scotland.

The Gunn–Keith Feud: Scotland’s Bloodiest Clan Rivalry

No story about Clan Gunn is complete without the feud with Clan Keith. It lasted for more than a century. It was one of the bitterest clan conflicts in Scottish history.

The trouble began in the early 15th century. A Keith killed the Gunn chief and married his widow by force. The Gunns swore revenge. For decades, the two clans clashed across the north. Lives were lost. Villages burned. Families fled.

In 1426, the clans fought at the Battle of Harpsdale, near Halkirk in Caithness. The Gunns won that day. But the fighting did not stop.

The bloodiest moment came in 1464. Both sides agreed to a peace meeting at St Tear’s Chapel, near Wick. Each side was to bring twelve horsemen. The Keiths arrived with two men on each horse. They had twice the fighters they had agreed to bring.

In the fight that followed, George Gunn died. He was the Crowner of Caithness — the most powerful man in the clan. His death crushed the Gunns.

The feud finally ended in 1978, over 500 years after it began. The chiefs of both clans held a formal ceremony of reconciliation in Edinburgh. It was a remarkable moment in Scottish history. You can read more about Scottish clan conflicts in our account of the Glencoe Massacre, another dark chapter in Highland clan life.

George Gunn, Crowner of Caithness

George Gunn was the most famous Gunn chief of the Middle Ages. He held the title of Crowner of Caithness. This made him the highest law officer in the county.

He lived at Halberry Castle on the Caithness coast, near the village of Lybster. Local legends describe him as a man of great wealth and pride. He wore golden spurs. He travelled with a large retinue. He was the unquestioned lord of the north.

His murder at the hands of Clan Keith in 1464 left a wound that never fully healed. His sons scattered across the north. The clan’s power faded. But George Gunn’s name lived on. The sept name Georgeson — “son of George” — is a direct tribute to this great chief. Every Georgeson in Caithness carries a link to him.

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The Gunn Tartan

Clan Gunn has a striking tartan. The main colours are green, blue, and red. They reflect the Caithness landscape — the green moorland, the blue sea, and the red heather blooming in late summer.

There are two Gunn tartans in common use today. The standard Gunn tartan dates from the 19th century. There is also a lighter Gunn Dress tartan. Both appear in the Scottish Register of Tartans.

The Gunn plant badge is juniper. This tough shrub grows across the moorlands of Caithness and Sutherland. It thrives in harsh conditions. That makes it a fitting symbol for this resilient clan. Other northern clans like Clan MacKenzie and Clan Chisholm also have their own tartans and badges, each rooted in Highland tradition.

Clan Gunn and the Highland Clearances

The Highland Clearances devastated Clan Gunn country. Between 1800 and 1860, landlords evicted thousands of families from their ancestral land. They replaced people with sheep, which were more profitable.

Caithness and Sutherland suffered badly. Entire communities vanished from the map. Families who had held the same land for centuries were forced onto ships.

Many Gunn descendants sailed to Nova Scotia in Canada. Others went to Australia and New Zealand. Some crossed to the United States. If your Gunn ancestors arrived in Canada between 1810 and 1860, they were likely Clearance emigrants. Many settled in Pictou County, Nova Scotia — a region shaped deeply by Scottish Highland culture.

The village of Badbea, on the Caithness coast south of Wick, tells this story with raw power. Families cleared from inland glens were resettled on clifftop land too poor for sheep. The wind was so fierce that mothers tied their children to fence posts to keep them safe. Today, Badbea is a ruin. A stone monument marks the names of the families who lived there. It is one of the most moving places in all of Scotland.

Clan Gunn Around the World

Today, Clan Gunn descendants live on every continent. The Clan Gunn Society is active in Scotland, North America, and Australia. It holds an annual gathering in Caithness each August. Members travel from around the world to reconnect with their roots.

Many people carry Gunn sept surnames — Swanson, Henderson, Williamson — without knowing their connection to the clan. DNA testing has helped thousands of families trace this link. Scottish genealogy databases — above all ScotlandsPeople — hold detailed records from Caithness parishes going back to the 17th century.

Neil M. Gunn (1891–1973) is the most famous Gunn in modern times. Born in Dunbeath, Caithness, he became one of Scotland’s greatest novelists. His book “The Silver Darlings” tells the story of the herring fishermen of the north coast. It is one of the finest books ever written about Highland life. If you want to understand what it meant to live in Gunn country, read it.

Where to Visit Clan Gunn Country

Caithness is one of Scotland’s most overlooked destinations. If you have Gunn blood, a visit here rewards you deeply. Our full guide to planning a Scottish heritage trip covers how to organise your journey, including visits to local archives and family history centres.

Keiss Castle stands on the coast near Wick. Its clifftop ruins overlook the North Sea. The village of Keiss nearby sits in historic Gunn territory. A newer castle — Keiss Castle House — stands close by and is still occupied.

Dunbeath is the birthplace of Neil M. Gunn. The Neil Gunn Heritage Centre in the village tells his story and the wider story of life in Caithness. It is a small but excellent museum.

Badbea Clearance Village lies on the A9 coast road south of Wick. A short walk from the road takes you to the ruins. The monument lists the names of every family who lived here. Take time to read them.

The Grey Cairns of Camster stand in the heart of the Caithness moorland. These Neolithic burial chambers are 5,000 years old. They remind you how long people have lived in this landscape. You are not the first to stand here and wonder about the people who came before.

Helmsdale is the main town of the clearance coast in Sutherland. The Timespan Museum here tells the story of the Clearances and the emigration to Canada. It is one of the best small museums in the Highlands.

For a full trip plan, our 7-day Scottish ancestry itinerary can help you make the most of your time. You can also read about the nearby Clan Sinclair, whose territory in Caithness bordered the Gunns for centuries.

Frequently Asked Questions About Clan Gunn

What does the Gunn surname mean?

The name Gunn comes from the Old Norse name Gunni or Gunnar. It means warrior or battle. Norse settlers brought it to Caithness and Sutherland around the 11th century. It is one of the clearest Viking-origin surnames in Scotland.

What are the main sept surnames of Clan Gunn?

The main Gunn septs include Henderson, Williamson, Swanson, Sandison, Johnson, Jameson, Georgeson, Wilson, Nelson, MacCorkill, MacHamish, MacWilliam, Robson, Robinson, and Gallie. If you carry one of these names, you may have Gunn ancestry from the far north of Scotland.

Where did Clan Gunn live in Scotland?

Clan Gunn lived in the far north of Scotland, mainly in Caithness and Sutherland. These counties sit at the very top of mainland Scotland, where the North Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the most remote and dramatic landscapes in Europe.

What is the Clan Gunn tartan?

The Clan Gunn tartan uses green, blue, and red. There are two versions — the standard Gunn tartan and the lighter Gunn Dress tartan. Both are registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans. The plant badge of Clan Gunn is juniper.

What happened to Clan Gunn during the Highland Clearances?

Many Gunn families were evicted from their lands during the Clearances of the 19th century. Thousands emigrated to Nova Scotia, Australia, and New Zealand. The ruined village of Badbea on the Caithness coast stands as a powerful memorial to this period of loss.

Who is the most famous person with the Gunn name?

Neil M. Gunn (1891–1973) is the most celebrated person with the Gunn surname. He was born in Dunbeath, Caithness, and became one of Scotland’s greatest novelists. His best-known work is “The Silver Darlings,” a novel about the Highland fishing communities of the north coast.

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