Hannay / Hannah
Clan Motto: Per Ardua Ad Alta (Through difficulties to Heaven)
Origin of Name: Possible Gaelic: ‘O’Hannaidh’, or ‘Ap Shenaeigh’
Region: Lowlands
Historic Seat: Sorbie Tower, Dumfries & Galloway
Clan Chief: David Hannay of Kirkdale and of that Ilk
⇨ View All Hannay Tartan Products
Hannay Clan History
Hannay may have been spelled 'Ahannay' at first, possibly derived from the Gaelic 'O'Hannaidh' or 'Ap Shenaeigh'. The ancestors of the family can be traced back to Galloway in South-West Scotland. In 1296, the name 'Gilbert de Hannethe' appears on the Ragman Roll. Unlike many Scottish nobles who later supported Robert the Bruce, Gilbert backed John Balliol, who was more local to them due to his descent from the Celtic Princes of Galloway.
The family began to spread from their lands of Sorbie, reportedly acquired by the same Gilbert, and a tower built at Sorbie in 1550 commanded their ever increasing dominion.
Patrick Hannay had a distinguished military career and was patronized by Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia, James VI's daughter and Charles I's sister. After the death of Queen Anne, wife of James VI in 1619 Patrick composed two eulogies and in return had many published on his own death, one of which said: 'Go on in virtue, aftertimes will tell, none but a Hannay could have done so well'.
Perhaps the most well-known Hannay was James Hannay, the Dean of St Giles' in Edinburgh, who claimed to be the target of Jenny Geddes' stool. In 1637, the Dean was reading the new liturgy when a cry of 'Thou false thief, dost thou say Mass at my lug?' was heard, and a stool was thrown from the congregation by an enraged Jenny Geddes. The incident sparked a full-fledged riot, which the town guard had to put down.
Sir Robert Hannay of Mochrum was elevated to the rank of Baronet of Nova Scotia. In 1630, the Hannays of Grennan, Knock, Garrie, and Kingsmuir descended from the Sorbies. The fortunes of the original Hannays of Sorbie were severely harmed in the seventeenth century when the Hannays were outlawed due to a long-running feud with the Murrays of Broughton. Around 1640, the famous tower at Sorbie fell into disrepair and was lost, along with the surrounding lands. Many Hannays immigrated to Ireland, particularly Ulster, and the name can still be found there as well as in many surrounding Counties.
Alexander Hannay, a younger son of the Sorbie Hannays, established a branch of the family in Kirkdale near Kirkcudbright. The line established by his son John Hannay of Kirkdale is now considered the most important.
Sir Samuel Hannay, who had previously served in the Hapsburg Empire. He returned to Scotland after amassing considerable wealth in London, and built the Kirkdale mansion house before his death in 1790, when the estate passed to his sister Mary, and then to her nephew, William Rainsford Hannay, on her death in 1850. The current chief Hannay of Kirkdale and his ilk descends from this direct line. The clan has not forgotten its origins, as the old tower was given to a clan trust for preservation in 1965.
Hannay Places & People
Clan Hannay People
Hannay, James (1827–1873)
Born in Dumfries, he became a novelist and journalist after serving in the navy for several years. He later became the editor of the Edinburgh Courant. He published two novels, Singleton Fontenoy (1850) and Eustace Conyers (1855), as well as Lectures on Satire and Satirists and Thackeray Studies. He served as British Consul in Barcelona for the last five years of his life.
Hannay Tartan
Hannay Tartan
Hannay Crest & Coats of Arms
Clan Hannay Crest
Crest: A cross crosslet fitchee issuing from a crescent Sable.
Coats of Arms of Hannay
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.
HANNAY, Sorbie
Argent, three couped roebucks' heads, Azure, collared, Or, with a bell, Gules, pendent from each collar.
1) SORBIE'S HANNAY
2) MOCHRUM'S HANNAY
3) William Ramsay Rainsford Ramsay
KIRKDALE HANNAY & THAT ILK
b.1911 d.2004
1) Argent, three roebucks' heads couped in Azure collared Or, from Gules, a bell pendent there.
2) Azure collared three stags' heads couped Argent Gules belled.
3) Argent, three roebuck's heads couped Azure collared or pendant Gules.
1) Alexander Nisbet's 1722 A System of Heraldry
2) Scottish Ordinary by Sir James Balfour Paul
1784
3) Burke's Scottish Landed Gentry Kingdom
Lyon Register, October 31, 1983
HANNAY, Patrick Davies
Three bucks heads couped Argent, collared Azure Alternatively, a bell pendent All Gules within a bordure engrailed quarterly Gules and Azure for distinction. Volume II of the Ordinary of Arms, 1902-1973
March 21, 1939 33/56
HANNAH, Alexander
Three bucks' heads couped Argent, collared Azure Alternatively, a bell pendent Gules a chief of the last masoned Sable between two lymphads also Argent. Volume II of the Ordinary of Arms, 1902-1973
52/60 on April 22, 1970
HANNAH, Alexander
Three bucks' heads couped Argent, collared Azure Alternatively, a bell pendent Gules a chief of the last masoned Sable between two lymphads also Argent. Volume II of the Ordinary of Arms, 1902-1973
52/60 on April 22, 1970
By ScotsTee
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