These sites should be avoided, unless you like throwing your money away.
It purports to tell you if you are from Clan Gunn via a DNA test, but when questioned, Cheryl Gunn Maxwell, the seller/advertiser of the test, refuses to admit that it can only tell you if you have a common ancestor with other test subjects. It cannot tell your clan! Here are two sites to be avoided. Save you money, read the history below, and then join us in conversation about this, and other Scottish/Celtic topics at http://skyelander.proboards.com

An Early history of Clan Gunn - The Viking Clan

Part One.
by Robert M. Gunn, MA

Origins

The Clan Gunn is often referred to as "the MacGregors of the North" due, in part, to their many conflicts with their neighbours, which had the unfortunate result of the Gunns being eventually blamed (by other clans) as the "chief trouble-makers in the area." Of course this isn't the case, as will be shown.

The origins of the Gunns are obscured by the lack of credible written material and are somewhat speculative having become quite contentious in more recent times.

The Gunn's are of Norse descent (possibly being mixed with Northern Pictish tribes), originally claiming descent from one Gunni (sometimes called Guin), (1) the second son of Olav the Black, the Norwegian King of Man and the Isles, who died in 1237. Additionally, a second tradition states that (2) they were descended from Guin (Gunni) a century earlier, as the son of Olav of Gairsay (a different Olav) who lived in Orkney.

Lastly, a more recent book about Clan Gunn suggests that the two above theories are erroneous and unsupportable. (3) The "History of Clan Gunn", by Mark Rugg Gunn, provides a compelling tale of Gunn descent from Gunni, grandson of the Viking adventurer Svein Asliefarsson, of the Orkneyinga Saga fame. Of course, information derived from the Sagas is somewhat subjective and open to historical interpretation and evaluation. Dr. Anna Ritchie, writing for Historic Scotland in her book "The Vikings in Scotland", says this regarding the sagas:

"The major historical source for the Norse Earldom of Orkney, Caithness, Shetland and the Western Isles lies in the Icelandic Sagas. Primarily Orkneyinga saga, but also Landnamabok, Egil's saga, Magnus' saga, and others. But the historical value of these sagas varies and is not always easy to define. At best they covey an impression of political life in the Eleventh and Twelfth centuries, at worst they may be misleading in failing to distinguish anachronistic oral tradition and contemporary society. "

The account in the Orkneyinga saga (106) of Svein Asleifarsson's Viking exploits in the mid-twelfth century is a good example:

'In the spring he had more than enough to occupy him, with a great deal of seed to sow which he saw to himself. Then when that job was done, he would go off plundering in the Hebrides and in Ireland in what he called his "spring-trip", then back home just after midsummer, where he stayed until the fields had been reaped and the grain was safely in. After that he would go off raiding again and never come back until the first month of winter was ended. This he used to call his "autumn-trip". ' -- Orkneyinga Sagas.

This is a fascinating account of the Viking lifestyle, but it occurs in a time when we know that Viking raiding was no longer a normal part of Viking life. Unless the authors of the saga are confusing the dates or simply making an allegory of the earlier Viking period, it is anachronistic. Therefore, one must use caution when taking the sagas as historical texts rather than as narrative political histories.

According to Moncreiffe, the Clan Gunn was Gunn of Kilearnan whose Gaelic title was 'Mac Sheumais Chataich'. The family derived their name from their Norse Orcadian name Gunni, whose wife Ragnhild inherited great estates on the Scottish mainland in Caithness (Katanes) and Sutherland (Sundrlund - meaning "south land").

He goes on the list a sketchy genealogy which, more or less, agrees with the writings of Mark Rugg Gunn. Essentially, without listing all of the names (taken from the sagas) of the individual Vikings involved, they come to the somewhat speculative conclusion that, in fact, the clan Gunn is descended from Gunni, a descendant of Svein Asliefarsson, the "hero" of the Orkeyinga Sagas. I'm not going to dispute this or confirm it, as there are some factual errors (recognised by the clan) in both books.  M. R. Gunn goes into such detail, partially based on old documents of various ministers -- portions of it missing or written by more than one hand; it would be best to read his book on the clan Gunn if you want all that early genealogy and his conclusions of the early clan Gunn. Attempting to trace the lineage of a clan that was primarily Norse and left no written records until the 13th-14th century, is very speculative work by its very nature.  I applaud his efforts and undoubtedly he has opened the door to many undiscovered areas of Gunn history, but it isn't truly verifiable.

The original history of the clan (the Olaf the Black theory) appears very flawed and unsupportable, but if one reads those early accounts it clearly states "Clan Gunn claims descent from" Olaf the Black, but it never confirmed it. So, we are left with a very conjectural situation regarding just which Gunni the clan is descended from. Whoever the correct progenitor was, one fact remains certain: the Gunn's are of Norse Viking descent and the name-father of the clan was one Gunni .

This brief history of the clan isn't intended to dispute or debunk the theories of Mark Rugg Gunn, but rather to list all three theories very briefly (as has been done) and pick up the story of the clan later on when more information is available and therefore more verifiable.

The clans early emblem was the galley (longship), the boat which symbolised their ancestral (Norse) mother-goddess Freya. Whatever the real origins of Gunni, we do know he existed, and he is the name-father of the clan and must have been a powerful man in Caithness.

In most clan compilation publications, (which are unfortunately often inaccurate) one thing seems clear: Clan Gunn was a very war-like clan and had continual feuds with their more numerous neighbours. It has been suggested by many writers and historians, that the name Gunn actually derives from the Norse word 'gunnr' which means war, and that description fits. The history of the clan is filled with feuds, wars and conflicts with their neighbours and often the much smaller clan of Gunn had their backs against the wall. But Sir Charles MacKinnon describes the Gunn's as "survivors" and this, as will be seen, is most accurate. R.R. MacIan dubbed the Gunn's the "MacGregor's of the North."

The clan has an early connection with the Orkney's as well as with Norway. The Gunn lands, Caithness and parts of Sutherland, put them in close proximity, in later centuries, to some larger clans such as the Sinclair's (who were granted their lands in the North in the 15th century), the Sutherland's, the MacKay's and later the Keith's. Therefore it isn't surprising that this war-like clan felt quite threatened by all the new arrivals. The Gunn's were, literally, encircled by these numerically superior clans. The result was often conflict and clan warfare. The Gunns reputation for being aggressive and war-like can be directly attributed to their geographical situation - hemmed in by sometimes-hostile neighbours. More on the conflicts and feuds later.

The Crowner

The majority of the Sept names of the clan Gunn come from the sons of the most famous of all Gunn Chiefs, George Gunn, the "Crowner" of Caithness, circa 1464. The Crowner (an office of Warden or Steward) often spelt coroner, was the office George held and he was known to wear a great silver badge of that office, which he used to fasten his plaid. This is how he acquired the nickname "Am Braisteach Mor" - this stood for 'the great broached one'.

The lands of the Gunn chiefs was in the Highland tracts of Caithness, and especially a long stretch of territory called "Gleann na Guineach" or Gunn's Glen in Kildonan. This was close to the border on Sutherland around the uppermost region of the river Helmsdale. It was a precarious place, being between the territories of the rival Earls of Caithness (Sinclair) and Sutherland.

Halberry Castle
It has been said that George Gunn occupied the tower of Dirlot by force in 1464. George, the Crowner of Caithness and chief of Clan Gunn, also had another castle at Hallburg or Halberry Castle in Mid Clyth, just north of Lybster.  He is said to have held court in his castle at Clyth in such splendour as to rival any Highland chief.  The castle stood on a promontory jutting out to sea, with a large channel dug into the rock for a drawbridge.

These were the days when the Gunn's only had a few neighbours and proudly held almost all of the area, before the arrival of the Norman clans Sinclair; the Celtic-Teutonic-Norman clan Keith; and the Celtic-Norse-Flemish clan Sutherland, moved in the area and began to take Gunn land. Only Clan MacKay occupied parts of these areas prior to the clan Gunn. Gunn predates both the Earls of Caithness and Sutherland. Inevitably the newer families and clans came (most got their lands largely by grants of the Scottish kings or by marriage), and the smaller clan Gunn was driven back into the mountains on the Caithness border. Prior to this, the Gunn's held these lands by 'fire and sword'. In recent times, there is still a place called "The Crouner's Garden" at Strath farm near Watten.  Additionally, Gunn family burial ground was long in the St. Magnus chapel at Spittal close to Dirlot Castle.

Conflict in the North

Since 1426, the Gunn's had been embroiled in combat and conflict primarily with the Keith's of Ackergill. They had also feuded with the MacKay's and Sutherlands, but it was the Keith's with which the Gunn's would have the bitterest of troubles.  The Keith's, a Celtic branch of the Chattan confederation, were also of Teutonic and Norman origin and obtained lands near and of the Gunn's by grants and inheritance through marriage. The Keith's of Ackergill had a connection (inheritance) of land through a Cheyne heiress, an important rival land-claim in Caithness from a remote ancestor John, Jarl of Orkney. Ironically, it is alleged that Gunni's (the name-father of clan Gunn) son, Snaekoll, murdered the Jarl in 1231.

Perhaps this only added fuel to fire of an already smoldering cauldron of distrust, rivalry and hate betwixt the two clans. The Keith's, newcomers to the area, challenged the Gunn Chief's both for the political hegemony of the region and for the land itself.

The first recorded feud between the two is known as the 'Battle of Tannach Moor' (Blar-Tannie) near Wick.

The history (and probably some legend) that leads to this battle is one of the most dramatic and tragic events in the Clan's long history of feuds.  It began in Braemore early in the 15th century.  Lachlan Gunn of Braemore had an only daughter named Helen who was so striking a woman she was known as "the Beauty of Braemore."  Helen was soon to marry Alexander Gunn, her cousin (common in those days) whom she'd known since childhood. The happy event was set, but fate intervened before the marriage could take place.

"The harp that has rung with the strains of the fight,
Shall to beauty and love be devoted tonight;
For the maiden is wed that we all did adore --
The pride of our valley, the flower of Braemore.

Tho' here we are all full of joy and delight,
There are hearts in the glen that are breaking tonight,
And many a sigh from the sad bosom wrung,
Is heaving for Helen, the charming and young.

The Keith in the lowlands, that dastardly hoard,
For the loss of the maiden may brandish his sword;
But we mind not his threats -- let him come to Braemore,
And we will give him a taste of the Highland Claymore!

May the choicest of blessings descend from above,
On the gallant young man and his dear lady love;
And long may they flourish in beauty and pride,
Like the ash and the birch on you green mountain side.
(Mr. Calder of Caithness)