Clan Cunningham is a
Scottish clan
A Scottish clan (from Goidelic languages, Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official ...
. The traditional origins of the clan are placed in the 12th century. However, the first contemporary record of the clan chiefs is in the thirteenth century. The chiefs of the Clan Cunningham supported
Robert the Bruce
Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventual ...
during the
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
The First War (1296–1328) began with the English invasion of ...
. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Clan Cunningham feuded with the
Clan Montgomery
Clan Montgomery (also Montgomerie) is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands.
History
Origins of the Clan
The Montgomeries emigrated from Wales to Scotland in the 12th century with the FitzAlans. The Cambro-Norman family derives its surname ...
. Historically, the chief of Clan Cunningham held the title of
Earl of Glencairn
Earl of Glencairn was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1488 for Alexander Cunningham, 1st Lord Kilmaurs (created 1450). The name was taken from the parish of Glencairn in Dumfriesshire so named for the Cairn Waters which ru ...
. However, in modern times the chief of the clan is Cunningham of Corsehill. On 18 December 2013, Sir John Christopher Foggo Montgomery Cunninghame, Baronet of Corsehill, was recognized by
Lord Lyon
The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grant ...
as
Clan Chief
The Scottish Gaelic word means children. In early times, and possibly even today, Scottish clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the clan, after whom the clan is named. The clan chief (''ceannard c ...
after the chiefship had been vacant for over 200 years.
History
![Cunningham tartan (Vestiarium Scoticum)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Cunningham_tartan_%28Vestiarium_Scoticum%29.png)
Origins
Cunninghame in the northern part of
Ayrshire
Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine and it borders the counties of Re ...
. Fredric van Bassen stated that in the year 1059, King Malcolm rewarded Malcolm, son of Freskin with the Thanedom of
Cunninghame
Cunninghame ( gd, Coineagan) is a former comital district of Scotland and also a district of the Strathclyde Region from 1975 to 1996.
Historic Cunninghame
The origin of the name (along with the surname ''Cunningham'') is uncertain. The endi ...
.
The progenitor of the family known as
Cunningham
Cunningham is a surname of Scottish origin, see Clan Cunningham.
Notable people sharing this surname
A–C
* Aaron Cunningham (born 1986), American baseball player
*Abe Cunningham, American drummer
* Adrian Cunningham (born 1960), Australian ...
was Warnebald, who received a grant for the land of the Manor Cunningham between 1135 and 1140.
The story that related to King Malcolm says that the son of Friskin, obtained the lands from
Malcolm III of Scotland
Malcolm III ( mga, Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, label=Medieval Gaelic; gd, Maol Chaluim mac Dhonnchaidh; died 13 November 1093) was King of Scotland from 1058 to 1093. He was later nicknamed "Canmore" ("ceann mòr", Gaelic, literally "big head" ...
after he had sheltered him under hay in a barn and this is said to have given rise to the family's coat of arms which is of a shake-fork, as well as the motto ''Over fork over''.
Sir George Mackenzie states that the coat of arms allude to the office of Master of the King's Stables.
The Cunninghams were certainly well settled in the parish of
Kilmaurs
Kilmaurs () is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland which lies just outside of the largest settlement in East Ayrshire, Kilmarnock. It lies on the Carmel Water, southwest of Glasgow. Population recorded for the village in the 2001 Census recorde ...
by the end of the thirteenth century.
The son of the Laird of Kilmaurs was Hervy de Cunningham who fought for
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III (Medieval ; Modern Gaelic: ; 4 September 1241 – 19 March 1286) was King of Scots from 1249 until his death. He concluded the Treaty of Perth, by which Scotland acquired sovereignty over the Western Isles and the Isle of Man. His ...
at the
Battle of Largs
The Battle of Largs (2 October 1263) was a battle between the kingdoms of Norway and Scotland, on the Firth of Clyde near Largs, Scotland. Through it, Scotland achieved the end of 500 years of Norse Viking depredations and invasions despite bei ...
in 1263 against the Norse invaders.
The following year he received a charter from the king confirming all of his lands.
Wars of Scottish Independence
During the
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
The First War (1296–1328) began with the English invasion of ...
the Cunninghams were supporters of the Bruces in their fight for Scottish independence.
However prior to this their name appears in the
Ragman Rolls
Ragman Rolls are the collection of instruments by which the nobility and gentry of Scotland subscribed allegiance to King Edward I of England, during the time between the Conference of Norham in May 1291 and the final award in favour of Balliol ...
, swearing fealty to
Edward I of England
Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he ruled the duchies of Aquitaine and Gascony as a vassa ...
in 1296.
Bruce being generous to his supporters and after his victory, the lands of Lamburgton were added to that of Kilmaurs in 1319 by royal charter.
Sir William Cunningham of Kilmaurs was amongst the Scottish noblemen offered as a hostage to
David II of Scotland
David II (5 March 1324 – 22 February 1371) was King of Scots from 1329 until his death in 1371. Upon the death of his father, Robert the Bruce, David succeeded to the throne at the age of five, and was crowned at Scone in November 1331, becom ...
's English captors in 1354.
Sir William's eldest son, also named William, married Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Denniston of that Ilk and acquired through her substantial lands including
Glen Cairn
Glen Cairn is a neighbourhood in Kanata South Ward in the west end of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is also the name of a public school in the area. Prior to amalgamation in 2001, it was located in the City of Kanata. It is located in South Kanat ...
and Finlayston in
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire () ( sco, Renfrewshire; gd, Siorrachd Rinn Friù) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland.
Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfr ...
.
15th and 16th century and clan conflicts
Sir William Cunningham's grandson was created Lord Kilmaurs in 1462 and then later
Earl of Glencairn
Earl of Glencairn was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1488 for Alexander Cunningham, 1st Lord Kilmaurs (created 1450). The name was taken from the parish of Glencairn in Dumfriesshire so named for the Cairn Waters which ru ...
.
One of his younger brothers was the ancestor of the Cunninghams of Caprington branch of the clan who later achieved their own prominence.
Other distinguished branches of the clan are the Cunninghams of Cunninghamhead, the Cunninghams of Aitket, the Cunninghams of Robertland, and the Cunninghams of Corsehill.
In 1488 the
Clan Montgomery
Clan Montgomery (also Montgomerie) is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands.
History
Origins of the Clan
The Montgomeries emigrated from Wales to Scotland in the 12th century with the FitzAlans. The Cambro-Norman family derives its surname ...
burned down the Clan Cunningham's
Kerelaw Castle
Kerelaw Castle is a castle ruin. It is situated on the coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland in the town of Stevenston.
History
This castle, variously named Kerelaw, Kerila or even Turnlaw,Robertson (1908), p. 133Clements, James. A is said by Tim ...
.
This was part of a century-long
feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, clan war, gang war, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight, often between social groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one part ...
that had apparently started when the office of
Baillie
A bailie or baillie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where bailies formerly held a post similar to that of an alderman or magistrate (see bailiff). Baillies appointed the high constables ...
in Cuninghame, held by the Cunninghams, was awarded to the son of
Lord Montgomerie on 31 January 1448-9.
The two clans had been on opposing sides at the
Battle of Sauchieburn
The Battle of Sauchieburn was fought on 11 June 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a stream about south of Stirling, Scotland. The battle was fought between the followers of King James III of Scotland and a large group of rebellious Scottish n ...
, with Hugh Montgomery among the victorious rebels,
[Way, George, and Squire, Romily. (1994). ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 278 - 279.] and
Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn
Alexander Cuninghame, 1st Earl of Glencairn, 1st Lord Kilmaurs (1426 – 11 June 1488) was a Scottish nobleman.
He became Lord of Kilmaurs on 8 February 1464 and Earl of Glencairn on 28 May 1488
Alexander of Kilmaurs succeeded his father befor ...
slain with the defeated James III. A longstanding rivalry (principally over the Bailieship of Cunninghame) was now a vendetta.
During the 16th century, the long-running feud continued. Edward Cunningham of Auchenharvie was slain in 1526 and Archibald Cunningham of Waterstoun in 1528;
[Robertson, William (1889). ''"Historical Tales of Ayrshire".'' Pub. Glasgow & London.] the Montgomery's
Eglinton Castle
Eglinton Castle was a large Gothic castellated mansion in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
History
The castle
The ancient seat of the Earls of Eglinton, it is located just south of the town of Kilwinning. The original Eglinton Castle w ...
was burned down by the Cunninghams in the same year.
In April 1586, Hugh Montgomery, 4th Earl of Eglinton, aged twenty-four, was traveling to
Stirling
Stirling (; sco, Stirlin; gd, Sruighlea ) is a city in central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the royal citadel, the medieval old town with its me ...
to join the Court having been commanded to attend by the King, accompanied only by a few domestic servants. He stopped at
Lainshaw Castle
Lainshaw Castle was a 15th century castle about south-west of Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland, to the north of Annick Water.Coventry, Martin (2001). ''The Castles of Scotland''. Musselburgh: Goblinshead. p. 2233 The castle was incorporated ...
to dine with his close relative, a Montgomery, the Lord of Lainshaw, whose Lady was a Margaret Cunningham of Aiket Castle, with sisters married to John Cunningham of Corsehill and
David Cunninghame of Robertland
Sir David Cunningham of Robertland, in Ayrshire, was Master of Works to the Crown of Scotland from 1602 to 1607, and Surveyor of the King's Works in England from 1604 to 1606
Career Exiled for murder
Involved in the murder of the Earl of Egli ...
.
[Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). ''Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont'' 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow.] It seems that a plot to kill the Earl had been organized and the Lady or some say a servant girl who was also a Cunningham,
climbed to the battlements after the meal to hang out a white table napkin and thereby sprung the trap. Thirty Cunninghames attacked the Earl as he crossed Annick Ford and cut his servants to pieces; the Earl himself was dispatched with a single shot from the pistol of John Cunningham of
Clonbeith Castle. His horse carried his dead body along the side of the river, still known as the 'Weeping', 'Mourning', or 'Widows' path. A wave of bloody revenge swept over Cunninghame and elsewhere. Cunningham relatives, friends, and supporters were killed without mercy. Aiket was killed near his home; Robertland and Corsehill escaped to Denmark. Clonbeith was traced to a house in Hamilton, possibly Hamilton Palace
[Ker, Rev. William Lee (1900) ''Kilwinnning''. Pub. A.W.Cross, Kilwinning. .P 153.] and hacked to pieces by Robert Montgomery and John Pollock. Robert also killed the Earl of Glencairn's brother the Commendator of Kilwinning Abbey, Alexander of Montgreenan, thought to have instigated Hugh's murder. He rode to Montgreenan and shot the Commendator at his own gate.
[Skelmorlie - Walter Smart History(1968).] The government of King
James VI of Scotland
James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until hi ...
eventually managed to make the chiefs of the two clans shake hands. In 1661 Lord High Chancellor William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn, married Margaret Montgomery, daughter of Alexander, 6th Earl of Eglinton, drawing a line under the feud.
In 1513 Cuthbert Cunningham, earl of Glencairn was at the
Battle of Flodden
The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton, (Brainston Moor) was a battle fought on 9 September 1513 during the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, resulting in an English ...
. The fifth Cunningham Earl of Glencairn was a Protestant reformer and a patron of
John Knox
John Knox ( gd, Iain Cnocc) (born – 24 November 1572) was a Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He was the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
Born in Giffordgat ...
.
The English saw the Reformation as an opportunity to discomfort the Scottish Crown and Glencairn was accused of being in their pay.
Glencairn rose up against
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567.
The only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scot ...
and at the
Battle of Carberry Hill
The Battle of Carberry Hill took place on 15 June 1567, near Musselburgh, East Lothian, a few miles east of Edinburgh, Scotland. A number of Scottish lords objected to the rule of Mary, Queen of Scots, after she had married the Earl of Bothwell, ...
in 1567 where she surrendered, Glencairn was one of the commanders.
He is said to have then ordered the destruction of the Chapel Royal at
Holyrood.
The Cunninghams were among the Scots who were undertakers of the
Plantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster ( gle, Plandáil Uladh; Ulster-Scots: ''Plantin o Ulstèr'') was the organised colonisation (''plantation'') of Ulstera province of Irelandby people from Great Britain during the reign of King James I. Most of the sett ...
.
Sir James Cunningham who married a daughter of the Earl of Glencairn was granted five thousand acres in
County Donegal
County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...
.
The name Cunningham is in the top seventy-five most common in
Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...
.
17th century and Civil War
During the
Scottish Civil War,
William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn
William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn ( gd, Uilleam Coineagan) (1610–1664), was a Scottish nobleman, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and a cavalier. He was also the chief of Clan Cunningham.
The eldest son of William Cunningham, 8th Earl of ...
supported
Charles II of England
Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685.
Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...
.
In 1653 Glencairn raised a force to oppose
General Monk
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle JP KG PC (6 December 1608 – 3 January 1670) was an English soldier, who fought on both sides during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A prominent military figure under the Commonwealth, his support was cruc ...
.
In August of that year Glencairn went to Lochearn in
Perthshire
Perthshire (locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, ...
where he met with some of the Highland clan chiefs.
In 1654, with a body of fighting men, Glencairn took possession of
Elgin.
He then announced a commission to raise all of Scotland against
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...
but the rising was a failure.
Glencairn however escaped with his life and after the
Restoration
Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to:
* Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage
** Audio restoration
** Film restoration
** Image restoration
** Textile restoration
* Restoration ecology
...
he was made Lord Chancellor of Scotland.
In 1669 Sir John Cunningham of Caprington, a lawyer, was created a
Baronet of Nova Scotia
This is a list of baronetcies in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. These were first created in 1624, and were replaced by the Baronetage of Great Britain in 1707.
This page lists baronetcies, whether extant, extinct, dormant (D), unproven (U), ...
by Charles II.
18th century and Jacobite risings
At the
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden (; gd, Blàr Chùil Lodair) was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force under Prince Wi ...
in 1746, the British artillery which fired
grapeshot
Grapeshot is a type of artillery round invented by a British Officer during the Napoleonic Wars. It was used mainly as an anti infantry round, but had other uses in naval combat.
In artillery, a grapeshot is a type of ammunition that consists of ...
at the advancing Jacobites was Captain Cunningham's Company, although its commander, Archibald Cunningham, had been dead for two months.
[Prebble, John. (2002). ''Culloden''. pp. 84 and 337.]
Alexander Cunningham
Major General Sir Alexander Cunningham (23 January 1814 – 28 November 1893) was a British Army engineer with the Bengal Engineer Group who later took an interest in the history and archaeology of India. In 1861, he was appointed to the newly ...
was a historical writer who was the British envoy to
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
from 1715 to 1720.
Charles Cunningham was famous for his historical paintings, some of which are in
Hermitage Palace
The State Hermitage Museum ( rus, Государственный Эрмитаж, r=Gosudarstvennyj Ermitaž, p=ɡəsʊˈdarstvʲɪn(ː)ɨj ɪrmʲɪˈtaʂ, links=no) is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is the largest ...
in
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
and also in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
.
William Cunningham of Robertland was a friend of the poet
Robert Burns
Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who hav ...
.
Allan Cunningham was a poet and writer who some believe was only eclipsed by Burns himself.
Alan Cunningham's work was supported by
Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels '' Ivanhoe'', '' Rob Roy' ...
who provided for Cunningham's children after his death.
Castles
![Finlaystone House](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Finlaystone_House.jpg)
Clan Cunningham castles, castle houses, and great estates:
*
Finlaystone Castle, known today as Finlaystone House, is near Port Glasgow in County Inverclyde (just across the border from County Renfrewshire), was held from 1399 to 1873 by Clan Cunningham (their Chiefs the Lords Kilmaurs from 1399 to 1488 and their Chiefs the Earls of Glencairn from 1488 to 1796 when the Earldom and Chiefship fell dormant until the 21st century.
2In 1797 Finlaystone passed to Cunningham heirs, including Robert Cunningham Graham of Dartmore, and was finally sold in 1873 to the Kidstons, and later passed to the Clan MacMillan in 1929.
*
Kilmaurs Place, about two and a half miles north of
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock (, sco, Kilmaurnock; gd, Cill Mheàrnaig (IPA: ʰʲɪʎˈveaːɾnəkʲ, "Marnock's church") is a large town and former burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland and is the administrative centre of East Ayrshire, East Ayrshire Council. ...
in
County Ayershire, dates from 1620 although the lands of Kilmaurs have been held by the Cunninghams since the thirteenth century
*
Kilmaurs Castle - The Cunninghams had an earlier stronghold near Jocksthorn Farm in Kilmaurs.
*Glencairn Castle, now known as Maxwelton House, is a couple of miles east of
Moniaive
Moniaive ( 'monny-IVE'; gd, Am Moine Naomh, ''"The Holy Moor"'') is a village in the Parish of Glencairn, in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland. It stands on the Cairn and Dalwhat Waters, north-west of the town of Dumfries. Moniaive ha ...
in
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway ( sco, Dumfries an Gallowa; gd, Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh) is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland and is located in the western Southern Uplands. It covers the counties of Scotland, historic counties of ...
.
The building is a seventeenth-century tower house of two stories and includes a later mansion and tower house.
The property was originally held by the Dennistouns but passed by marriage in the fifteenth century to the Cunninghams of Kilmaurs.
The castle was named Glencairn after the Cunningham's earldom which is currently dormant.
The castle was sold to the Laurie family in 1611 and they changed the name from Glencairn to Maxwelton.
*
Caprington Castle
Caprington Castle is a 15th century keep, incorporated in a castellated mansion, about south west of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland, south of the River Irvine Scott "Binky" Clark no longer runs Caprington with regards to his views on Ameri ...
is about two miles south-west of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire and has a massive keep dating from the fifteenth century that is encased in a castellated mansion.
It was originally held by the Wallaces of
Sundrum but passed by marriage in 1425 to the Cunninghams.
These Cunninghams were afterwards styled 'of Caprington'.
*
Aiket Castle was about four miles south-east of
Beith
Beith is a small town in the Garnock Valley, North Ayrshire, Scotland approximately south-west of Glasgow. The town is situated on the crest of a hill and was known originally as the "''Hill o' Beith''" (hill of the birches) after its ''Court ...
, Ayrshire, and dates from the sixteenth century.
It is an altered and extended tower house.
The lands were held by the Cunninghams of Aiket from the fifteenth century or earlier.
The property passed to the Dunlops in the eighteenth century and was later used to house farm workers, until it burned down in the 1960s.
*
Robertland Castle is about one-mile north-east of
Stewarton
Stewarton ( sco, Stewartoun,
gd, Baile nan Stiùbhar ...
, Ayrshire.
It was held by the Cunninghams in 1506 and David Cunningham of Robertland, with others, murdered Hugh Montgomery.
However Cunningham was later hunted down and killed as well, although the feud between the two clans continued for at least another twenty years.
*
Kerelaw Castle
Kerelaw Castle is a castle ruin. It is situated on the coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland in the town of Stevenston.
History
This castle, variously named Kerelaw, Kerila or even Turnlaw,Robertson (1908), p. 133Clements, James. A is said by Tim ...
was built by the Cunningham Earls of Glencairn but was destroyed in a feud in 1488 and later sacked by the
Clan Montgomery
Clan Montgomery (also Montgomerie) is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands.
History
Origins of the Clan
The Montgomeries emigrated from Wales to Scotland in the 12th century with the FitzAlans. The Cambro-Norman family derives its surname ...
in 1528.
*
Kyle Castle in East Ayrshire was once held by the Cunningham Clan.
*
Auchenharvie Castle
Auchenharvie Castle is a ruined castle near Torranyard on the A 736 Glasgow to Irvine road. Burnhouse lies to the north and Irvine to the south. It lies in North Ayrshire, Scotland.
History The Castle
The ruins still stand in a prominent ...
.
*
Corsehill Castle,
Stewarton
Stewarton ( sco, Stewartoun,
gd, Baile nan Stiùbhar ...
.
*
Lainshaw Castle
Lainshaw Castle was a 15th century castle about south-west of Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland, to the north of Annick Water.Coventry, Martin (2001). ''The Castles of Scotland''. Musselburgh: Goblinshead. p. 2233 The castle was incorporated ...
,
Stewarton
Stewarton ( sco, Stewartoun,
gd, Baile nan Stiùbhar ...
.
*
Clonbeith Castle,
Auchentiber
The hamlet of Auchentiber (Scottish Gaelic, ''Achadh an Tiobair'') is in North Ayrshire, Parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. Auchentiber is northeast of Kilwinning on the Lochlibo Road, from the hamlet of Burnhouse and from the village of Barrmil ...
.
*
Montgreenan Castle,
Auchentiber
The hamlet of Auchentiber (Scottish Gaelic, ''Achadh an Tiobair'') is in North Ayrshire, Parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. Auchentiber is northeast of Kilwinning on the Lochlibo Road, from the hamlet of Burnhouse and from the village of Barrmil ...
.
*
Glengarnock Castle
Glengarnock Castle is one of the ancient ruined fortifications of Ayrshire. Its keep is located on a remote rocky promontory overlooking the River Garnock about north of the town of Kilbirnie in North Ayrshire, Scotland. There is no clear acco ...
.
*
Lambroughton
Lambroughton is a village in the old Barony of Kilmaurs, Scotland. This is a rural area famous for its milk and cheese production and the Ayrshire or Dunlop breed of cattle.
Although Kilmaurs is in the council area of East Ayrshire, Lambrought ...
*
Lands of Doura
*
Thorntoun house and estate
Thorntoun School was opened by Barnardo's in September 1971 for children with emotional difficulties aged 11 to 16 years. The school closed in 1990 and Thorntoun is now a nursing home. The complex lies between the villages of Springside (North Ay ...
is near Kilmarnock and was held by the Cunninghams from 1699 together with the estate of Caddel near Kilwinning.
*
Towerlands - A small estate once held by the Cunningham Clan.
See also
*
Barony and Castle of Corsehill
The old Barony and castle of Corsehill lay within the feudal Baillerie of Cunninghame, near Stewarton, now East Ayrshire, Scotland.
The Lairds of Corsehill
Godfrey de Ross was an early holder of the castle and lands of Corsehill, moving his ...
*
Cunningham
Cunningham is a surname of Scottish origin, see Clan Cunningham.
Notable people sharing this surname
A–C
* Aaron Cunningham (born 1986), American baseball player
*Abe Cunningham, American drummer
* Adrian Cunningham (born 1960), Australian ...
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Cunninghamhead
Cunninghamhead is a hamlet on the Annick Water in the Parish of Dreghorn, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The area was part of the old Cunninghamhead estate, and once contained several watermills.
Cunninghamhead and the mills on the Annick Water
The ...
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Cunninghamhead Estate
The Cunninghamhead Estate is in the 21st century mainly a residential caravan park with two private residences near Irvine, Scotland. It was once a private estate, owned by a sequence of recorded families since around 1418. The Mansion House, ...
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Cunninghamhead, Perceton and Annick Lodge
Cunninghamhead is a hamlet in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It was the centre of the lands of Cunninghamhead, Perceton and Annick Lodge in Cunninghame. This mainly rural area is noted for its milk and cheese production and the Ayrshire, Cunninghame or ...
References
External links
Clan Cunningham InternationalThe Legend of Friskin and King Malcolm Canmore.Video on the origins of the 'Over Fork Over' motto.Video and narration on Kilmaurs Castle.Annotated video on the history of Kilmaurs Place.Annotated video on Corsehill Castle.Annotated video on Auchenharvie Castle and the 'Bodysnatchers'Video and history of the Glencairn Aisle, KilmaursVideo footage and history of Kyle Castle
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Clan Cunningham
Scottish clans