Clan Cumming or Comyn | |||
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Na Cuimeinich | |||
Motto | Courage | ||
Slogan | An Cuimeanach! An Cuimeanach! | ||
War cry | Fhad 's a bhios maide sa choill, cha bhi foill an Cuimeineach ("as long as there is wood in the forest, there won't be deceit from Clan Cumming") | ||
Profile | |||
Region | Highland & Lowland | ||
District | Badenoch | ||
Plant badge | Common Sallow (Salix cinerea) (the Pussy Willow) Cummin plant | ||
Animal | Lion | ||
Pipe music | Willie Cumming's Rant | ||
Chief | |||
Sir Alexander "Alastair" Penrose Cumming of Altyre | |||
Seat | Altyre House, Forres, Moray, Scotland | ||
Historic seat |
Lochindorb Castle Inverlochy Castle |
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Clan Cumming, (Scottish Gaelic: Na Cuimeinich [nə ˈkʰɯ̃mɛnɪç]) also known as Clan Comyn, is a Scottish clan from the central Highlands that played a major role in the history of 13th century Scotland and in the Wars of Scottish Independence. The Clan Comyn were the most powerful family in 13th-century Scotland, until they were defeated in civil war by their rival to the Scottish throne, Robert the Bruce.
Like many of the families that came to power under King David I of Scotland, the Comyn clan is of Norman or Flemish origin. The surname is either a place-name, possibly derived from Bosc-Bénard-Commin, near Rouen in the Duchy of Normandy, or from Comines, near Lille, in France.
Richard Comyn, the nephew of William Comyn, chancellor to King David, is the one who established this family in Scotland. His son was William Comyn, who married Marjory, Countess of Buchan. William's mother was Hextilda, the granddaughter of king Donald III of Scotland. His son was Walter Comyn, the man who acquired the lordship of Badenoch. The seat of power was Ruthven Castle. Ruthven Castle commanded the northern end of two passes over the Mounth, the Drumochter and Minigaig passes. This lordship passed to his nephew, the first John Comyn. This John was the first to be known as "the Red" Comyn. He was a descendant of William Comyn, Earl of Buchan, by the earl's first wife, Sarah Fiz Hugh.