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"Remember the people from whence you came"

The Clan Hunter crest is a hunting dog and the proud Hunter clan motto reads "Cursum perficio", meaning "I accomplish the hunt".

Clan Hunter, heriditary keepers of the royal forests of Arran and the Little Cumbrae, can trace their proud origins back for well over a millenium. The Hunters descend from a great warrior who fought with Rollo the Viking at the sack of Paris in 896, and was appointed huntsman to Rollo’s descendants, the Dukes of Normandy. The Hunters accompanied William I’s queen, Matilda, across the English Channel following the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The Hunters were invited to Scotland by David I in the 12th Century, and the Scots King granted his favoured subjects lands in Ayrshire which became known as Hunter’s Toune. These lands were confirmed by a charter from Robert II in 1374. The ancient parchment is still kept at Hunterston House, granting the lands to the Hunters "for faithful service rendered and to be rendered to us in return for a silver penny payable to the Sovereign at Hunterston on the Feast of Pentecost". To this day, the Laird of Hunterston has a stock of silver pennies from Robert II’s mint, in case his monarch arrives on the appointed feast to collect the unclaimed token.

Clan Hunters’ faithful service to the Scottish Crown continued through the centuries, acting as keepers of the royal forests and fighting for Scotland whenever they were called upon. The Hunters took up arms at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, where John the 14th Laird laid down his life beside his king, James IV. Hunters made a hefty sacrifice at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547, where John’s grandson Mungo was slain fighting for the Scottish cause. The Clan Hunters’ loyalty often led to great rewards. The 20th Laird’s grandson Robert, a soldier of great repute, became Governor of Virginia and New York, while America was still a British colony.

The contributions of Clan Hunter to Scottish culture are well remembered throughout the nation’s history. The brothers John and William Hunter were famed 18th Century physicians who both founded great museums, the Hunterian Museum at Glasgow University and the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in London. The Clan also boasts the Hunterston Brooch, one of the finest specimens of Celtic-Anglian artwork, which was found on Hunterston estate by a shepherd in 1826. The brooch is believed to be around 1300 years old.

The Chiefs of Clan Hunter were renowned for the concern they showed to their clansfolk, and the consideration with which they governed their estates. Robert, the 23rd Laird is well remembered for the verve with which he increased the Clan’s fortunes during the 18th Century, while showing great respect for the people of the land. The lands of Hunterston now amount to 40 acres around the 15th Century castle, and 18th Century mansion of the Clan Hunter Chiefs.

The current 30th Laird is Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterston Castle, Ayreshire, Scotland.