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Clan Cunningham (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Cunningham

Gaelic Name: MacCuinneagain

Clan Crest: A unicorn’s head couped, Argent, armed, Or

Clan Motto: Over Fork Over

Origin of Name: Placename, Ayrshire

Historic Seat: Finlaystone House, Renfrewshire

Clan Chief: Sir John Christopher Foggo Montgomery Cunninghame

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Cunningham Clan History

The first Cunningham is thought to have been a Flemish man named Wernibald, who received a grant of Kilmaurs in Cunningham, Ayrshire, from Hugo de Morville, the Constable of Scotland, in 1140.

Between 1399 and 1796, Finlaystone House was the Cunninghams' ancestral home. It is now in the hands of Clan MacMillan's chief.

In 1263, Haakon IV, King of Norway, arrived off the coast of this area to re-establish his rule over Scotland's Isles. This resulted in the Largs sea battle, from which Haakon would never return home. Harvey Cunningham of Kilmaurs had his family's property expanded by Alexander II as a reward for his participation in the battle.

Hugh Cunningham was granted the lands of Lamburgton by Robert the Bruce in 1321. When Hugh's grandson Sir William married Margaret, heiress of the Dennistons of that ilk, Glencairn became the Cunninghams' property as well. In 1488, James III created Sir William's grandson, Alexander, Earl of Glencairn. Later that year, he and his King were both killed in the Battle of Sauchieburn.

The 5th Earl of Glencairn belonged to the 'Lords of the Congregation of Jesus Christ,' whose business was misappropriating church property and undermining Scottish government on behalf of the well-off English. The work of the group was crucial in the Tudors' destruction of Mary, Queen of Scots' rights.

However, the 9th Earl was a patriot in the mold of the 1st Earl.

In 1653, while Scotland was under Cromwell's control, Glencairn led a rebellion on behalf of Charles II, who was safe on the Continent. The rebellion was hopeless, but following the Restoration, he was appointed Lord Chancellor of Scotland in 1660.

A number of Cunninghams, including the 14th Earl, were artistic friends with Robert Burns in the 18th century.

Burns wrote the following tribute to the chief:

The groom may forget about the bride.

Yestreen was made his wedded wife;

The monarch may lose sight of the crown.

That has been on his mind for an hour;

The mother might forget about the child.

That sweetly smiles sae on her knee;

But, Glencairn, I'll remember you.

And look what you've done for me!

Clan Cunningham Places & People

Cunningham Clan Members

Allan Cunningham (1784-1842)

Alan Cunningham became his brother's apprentice when he was ten years old, but while learning to be a stonemason by day, he practiced his writing and read the work of a family friend, Robert Burns, in his spare time.

In 1796, he was part of Burns' funeral procession and later became friends with Scotland's other great writer, Sir Walter Scott. Cunningham moved to London in 1811, with Scottish ballads already in print, to work as a parliamentary reporter and then as the superintendent of works for Frances Legatt Chantrey, the sculptor.

He was a prolific writer, leaving works such as 'Traditional Tales of the English and Scottish Peasantry (1822), 'Lives of the Most Eminent British Painters, Sculptors, and Architects (1829-33) and 'The Songs of Scotland' (1825), in which he wrote his famous 'A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea'.

Cunningham, Richard (1793-1835)

The two brothers were born into a family of botanical enthusiasts, as their father was a Renfrewshire gardener. They were hired as plant collectors by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, a job that took them to the other side of the world. Allan arrived in Australia in 1817 after some exploration and plant collecting in South America and worked with a number of expeditions exploring into New South Wales.

In 1824, while on his own expeditions, he charted the first route through the treacherous Blue Mountains, and three years later discovered the fertile Darling Downs. His route between the plateau and the coast used a pass that became known as Cunningham's Gap.

Richard was appointed Colonial Botanist in 1833, but died two years later while on an expedition. His brother was appointed to the position, but he died four years later in Sydney, having been weakened by such a difficult life.

Sir Alexander Cunningham (1814-1893)

Cunningham was given an Indian cadetship through Sir Walter Scott's influence, arrived in India as a Second Lieutenant in 1833, and spent his entire military career there. He was always fascinated by India's ancient history, much of which remained unexplored or misunderstood.

He was the first westerner to study the Buddhist stupa at Sarnath, which was built where Buddha delivered his first sermon, in 1837. Cunningham searched for and dated Buddhist temples and historical events in India using newly available Chinese translations of early pilgrims' travels.

His work continued for fifteen years after he retired as a Major General from the army, and he is known as the "Father of Indian Archaeology."

Clan Cunningham Locations

Clan Cunningham is associated with the following locations, either currently or historically.

(Ruins) Glengarnock Castle

(Ruins of Ravenscraig Castle)

(Ruins of Craigends Castle)

(Ruins of Kerlaw Castle)

Castle Kilmaurs (ruins)

(ruins of Clonbeith)

Caprington Castle (top image c.1906)

Dumbarton House

Castle Skelmorlie

Dean's Castle

Finlaystone

Castle Talla

Castle Aiket

Cherveux Castle in France

Slane Castle in Ireland

Cunningham Tartans

The following are Cunningham tartans that can be worn by people with the surname.

Cunningham Contemporary

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Hunting Cunningham (Nicolson)

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Blue Cunningham Dress Dancers

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Dancers in Cunningham Dress Burgundy

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Green Cunningham Dress Dancers

Clan Cunningham Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Cunningham Coat of Arms

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

Argent, armed with a unicorn's head couped, Or

Coat of Arms of Clan Cunningham

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.