The Cunningham clan gets its name from an area near Renfrewshire, southwest of Glasgow in north Ayrshire, which was named after the rabbits (cunny) who lived there in great supply. The family seat is at Finlaystone Castle, built in 1299, which they have owned for 400 years. The castle was acquired when a Cunningham ancestor, William, married Margaret Denniston, whose family previously owned the castle for 100 years. The family comes from local farmers named Friskin who hid Prince Malcolm Ceanmore under a pile of hay, hence the pitchfork (shakefork) on the clan crest. The clan motto is “Over fork over.” The Cunninghams were an ally of Robert the Bruce and trace their ancestry to a loyal 12th century warrior named Warnebaldus. The US Society was formed in 1984.

Clan Forsyth is a name clan, having no septs, its name meaning “man of peace.” It was a recognized clan with its own Chief by the 16th century. However, records were lost at the time of Oliver Cromwell and it was necessary to re-register, which the Chief failed to do. Thus, for 300 years there was no Chief and no Clan. But the worldwide spread of people bearing the name resulted in the Clan being reconstituted in recent years. The Chief is Alistair Forsyth of Ilk, who lives in Australia. The clan motto is, “Rebuilder of the Ruins.”

Clan Gunn descends originally from the Norse invaders who settled first in the Orkneys and Caithness. They mingled with the local population, spoke Gaelic and became thoroughly Scottish. They were a warlike group in their early years, continually feuding with neighboring clans. The Gunn Clan has no recognized Chief, but is headed by a Commander, Iain Alexander Gunn of Banniskirk, a resident of Lybster, Caithness. The Clan Gunn motto is, “Either peace or war.”

The MacAulays of Lewis and Loch Broom are descended from the Norseman Gunni Olafson, who is documented in The Orkneyinga Saga (circa 1200) as having been made an outlaw by Earl Harrold of Orkney. With the aid of his brother, Svein Asleifson, Gunni escaped to Lewis, where he was received by Ljotolf (Leod), the progenitor of the MacLeods. Literally translated, MacAulay means “son of Olaf”. The areas settled by the MacAulays were Uig in the west of the Isle of Lewis, Loch Broom near Ullapool (Olaf’s Home), Harris and the Uists. Some notable people descended from this clan are Donald Cam MacAulay, clan leader and the warrior folk-hero of Lewis, and Lord Thomas Babbington (first Lord MacAulay), famous author, essayist, historian and poet. The clan war cry is “MacAmhlaidh gu Brath!", which means “MacAulay forever.”

The MacDougall name comes from Dongall, son of Somerled, a King of the Hebrides from Norway, and translates to “black stranger” in Gaelic. Black was the hair color inherited by the MacDougalls from their royal Norse ancestors. The MacDougalls possessed most of the land in Argyll and the nearby Hebrides Islands in 1164. Son Duncan and grandson Ewan had several defensive castles built on the mainland, including Duntrune, castle of the turrets. The clan was at odds with the Campbells and after a conflict in 1315 was forced to forfeit some lands to the Campbells, including Duntrune. The MacDougalls, whose clan motto is “Conquer or die!”, regained the land a few generations later, the clan seat now at Oban.

The MacFarlane clan gained lands in Arrochar by Loch Long and Loch Lomond in the 12th century. In Gaelic, the clan name is Parlanaich after the Parlan of Gilchrist, the first owner of the land. MacFarlanes sheltered Robert the Bruce, fought at Bannockburn in 1314 and Flodden in 1513. They opposed Mary Queen of Scots, and after Oliver Cromwell conquered Scotland, he burned the family seat at Inveruglas to the ground. The lands in Arrochar were sold off in 1767. The clan stole so many cattle at night that the moon was called MacFarlane’s Lantern, the current name of their society newsletter. The Clan Society was founded in Glasgow in 1911 and the US branch in 1973 at Grandfather Mountain, NC. The supporters have bows & arrows meaning readiness for battle. Their motto is “This We’ll Defend.” The plant badge is the cranberry. The battle cry is “Loch Sloy”, which means “Springtime’s Comin’.” There are 4 red roses on the Arms, symbolizing grace and beauty.

The progenitor of the MacLeods was Leod, younger son of Olaf the Black, one of the last Norse Kings of Man and the Isles. Leod inherited Lewis and Harris along with parts of Skye on his father’s death in 1237. Through marriage to the Norse seneschal of Skye, the family acquired Dunvegan Castle, which remains in the family to this day. The Clan consists of two main branches: the MacLeods of Lewis descend from Leod’s son Torquil, while the MacLeods of Harris and Skye descend from another son, Tormod. The Clan motto is, “Hold Fast.”

Back in the 15th century, this clan was associated with the Clan Chattan Mackintoshes from Badenoch. As they grew in number, several families left the area and moved across the Grampian Mountains to Glenshee. They were listed in the polls of 1587 and 1595 as Clan MacThomas, but the clan began drifting apart in the late 1600s and soon became a “broken clan”. Feuds with the Farquharsons led some families to relocate to the Tay Valley, changing their name to Thomson. The Clan Society was founded in Edinburgh in 1954. The 19th Chief is Andrew MacThomas of Finegard, which is the family seat. The MacThomas clan motto is “I will overcome envy, with God’s help.” The clan crest shows a wildcat grasping a serpent.

The Malcolm Clan seat is at Duntrune Castle on the Poltalloch Estate in Argyll, the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland. The Clan Chief, Robin Neill Lochnell Malcolm, resides there. It was Robin’s father, Lieutenant Colonel George Ian Malcolm, the 18th Laird of Malcolm, who started the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1950 at Edinburgh Castle. The name Malcolm is derived from the Gaelic word “calaman”, which means a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. The Latin equivalent is “Columba”, which is also the name of Saint Columba who established the monastery on Iona. Followers of Saint Columba were “maol Chaluim” which gradually became the name Malcolm. From the 10th century onwards, there were four kings named Malcolm. There were three landowners named “Maucolum” (from Berwick, Perth and Montrose) who were signatories to the Ragman Roll in 1296. The clan plant is the Rowan Tree. The clan motto is “In ardua tendit”, which means, “We aim at difficult things.”

The origins of Clan Munro are lost in the distant past. By tradition, mercenary soldiers from Ireland in the 11th century were granted lands in Ross by a grateful Scottish king for their assistance in defeating Viking invaders. From documentary evidence, the Munros were well established by the middle of the 14th century on the north short of the Cromarty Firth in the area known as Ferindonald (Donald’s land). In general, Clan Munro was a law abiding and peaceful clan. Nevertheless, when need arose they stoutly defended their interests against more powerful neighbors. Clansmen and women have excelled in many professions, including medicine and politics. Military expeditions, adventurism and social change in the Highlands saw the name Munro spread throughout the world. The power of the old Highland Chieftains has gone, but the spirit of the Clan lives on through the Clan Munro Association, which enjoys a worldwide membership at www.clanmunro.org.

Scott is a Latin word meaning “raider”, referring to the Irish Celtic tribe called the “Scotti” that invaded the coast of Scotland in 501 AD. These Gaels settled in the Kintyre district of Argyll in western Scotland, an area then known as Dalriada. Scotland takes its modern name from this early tribe of raiders. This border clan acquired estates of Murthockstone through marriage, lands near Ettrick Forest in Ran Kilburn, and Buccleuch, which is now the clan seat. A feud with the neighboring Clan Kerr was resolved by a marriage in 1552, which explains their clan motto, “A Bellendaine”, which means, “I Love.” A stag proper on the clan crest is a symbol of fertility, peace and harmony, but it is also an animal that will fight when provoked.

The St. Andrew’s Society of Connecticut welcomes all who wish to share their love of Scotland, Scottish heritage and culture. Membership is open to all. You don’t have to be Scottish to belong. A tradition of “good works” and “to relieve the distressed” is a common thread that connects all St. Andrew’s Societies and underlies our goals. The St. Andrew’s Society of Connecticut is a nonprofit, all volunteer, charitable organization, and has given over $45,000 to Connecticut charities, such as the Connecticut Burn Camp, Aids Camp and various VNAs. In addition, over $30,000 has been awarded in scholarships for study of various aspects of Scottish culture, such as Highland dance, bagpipes and Gaelic singing. www.sasct.org

The New York Caledonian Club, as heir to the legacy of its four distinguished predecessor organizations, is no stranger to Highland Games in New York City. The Club’s first predecessor was the Highland Guard, organized after the war of 1812. The members of the Highland Guard, many of whom had emigrated from Scotland, informally organized a Caledonian Club in 1830. Captain William Manson and other members of the original Highland Guard officially established the New York Caledonian Club on the 14th of November 1856. Captain Manson had migrated from Thurso, Caithness, to the United States. The Club had its first meeting at his home at 256 Spring Street, at the corner of Varick Street in New York City. In 1857, Alexander Fraser became the first Chief of the New York Caledonian Club. From then on, Scottish immigrants arriving in New York found a new home in the Club to begin a new life in their new country.

The mission of the Nutmeg Curling Club is to teach, develop, promote and encourage the Olympic sport of Curling. We hold youth, junior and senior programs that lead to interscholastic, national and international competition. Curling involves members of a team shooting (sliding) 42 lb. polished granite stones down a 146 ft. long sheet of ice helped by the sweeping of teammates to melt the ice and control the distance and direction of the stone. Closest stones to the target score points. The typical game consists of eight ends (innings). Curling is easy to learn but difficult to master.

The Long Island Scottish Clan MacDuff #81 is a not-for-profit organization, with roots in the former Order of Scottish Clans, that seeks to keep alive Scottish traditions on Long Island, NY. Monthly meetings are held at the Community Church of Reform in Manhasset, NY. In addition to our annual Scottish games, we are involved in a variety of other events throughout the year, including a Robert Burns Supper in January, New York City Tartan Day Festivities in April, a golf outing during the summer, and a Kirkin' of the Tartans Service in November. Our Chief is Robert Small, who can be reached at 516-248-3852. Many of our members are also involved with the Clan Gordon Highlanders Pipe Band of Locust Valley, NY. Visit the band's web site at www.clangordonhighlanders.org. The Long Island Scottish Clan MacDuff is a charter member of the Association of Scottish Games and Festivals.