Hunter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hunter comes from the kingdom of Dalriada in ancient Scotland. It was a name for a person who worked as a hunter or someone involved in the chase.This name is derived the Latin word venator. [1] [2]

Early Origins of the Hunter family

The surname Hunter was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire. But while Scottish history places them in this area, we must remember that before the 5th century this Clan, held a family seat at Hy Seaain counties Derry and Tyrone, in Ireland, and were chiefs who calimes descent from King Colla da Crioch. Moving to Scotland about the 5th or 6th century they were granted lands by the Grahams at Polmood.

“William venator, who was one of the witnesses to the Inquisition of Earl David, before 1124, is apparently the first of the name recorded in Scotland. Yone Venatore was one of the witnesses to a Beauly charter of 1231. Adam Hunter was granted the hereditary office of sergeantry in all causes touching life and limb throughout the abbey land of Crauford belonging to the Abbey of Newbattle before 1259. John the hunter (venator) was one of the jurors on an inquisition made on the lands of Hopkelchoc (now Kailzie) in 1259.” [3]

“The family have been seated at Hunterston in Ayrshire since the time of Alexander II. They bear three hunting horns vert in their arms, whence probably the name.” [4]

“The Normans were great preservers and mighty hunters of game, and though the name is Anglo-Saxon (hunta) it is generally considered that the families bearing it are chiefly of Norman origin. Under the Norman and early Scottish kings the office of king’s hunter ( Venator Regis) was one of considerable dignity. “The hunters of Polmood in Tweedsmuir pretend to have had a charter of their lands from Graeme, who broke through the Wall of Antoninus in the V. century.” [5]

Early History of the Hunter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hunter research.

Hunter Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name Hunter include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include Hunter, Hunters and others.

Early Notables of the Hunter family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was General Robert Hunter (1664-1734), the colonial Governor of New York and New Jersey from 1710 to 1720, he belonged to the family of Hunter of Hunterston, Ayrshire; William Hunter FRS (1718-1783).

Hunter World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hunter is the 130^th most popular surname with an estimated 171,603 people with that name. [6] However, in Canada, the name Hunter is ranked the 146^thmost popular surname with an estimated 22,893 people with that name. [7] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hunter is the 523^rd popular surname with an estimated 88 people with that name. [8] Australia ranks Hunter as 106^th with 24,996 people. [9] New Zealand ranks Hunter as 99^th with 4,032 people. [10] The United Kingdom ranks Hunter as 103^rd with 46,215 people. [11]

 Migration of the Hunter family to Ireland

Some of the Hunter family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Hunter migration to the United States +

Many who arrived from Scotland settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would go on to become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many settlers who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Their descendants later began to recover the lost Scottish heritage through events such as the highland games that dot North America in the summer months. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Hunter family emigrate to North America: 

Hunter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Elizabeth Hunter, who arrived in Virginia in 1635
• Christian Hunter, aged 20, who landed in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 aboard the ship “Blessing” [12]
• Elizabeth Hunter, aged 18, who landed in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 aboard the ship “Blessing” [12]
• Mr. Thomas Hunter, aged 14, who landed in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 aboard the ship “Blessing” [13]
• Mr. William Hunter, aged 11, who landed in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 aboard the ship “Blessing” [13]

Hunter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Grace Hunter, who landed in Virginia in 1702 [12]
• Patrick Hunter, who arrived in Maryland in 1716 [12]
• Henry Hunter, who arrived in Maryland in 1738 [12]
• Anthony Hunter, who landed in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1740 [12]
• Samuel Hunter, who landed in Maryland in 1744 [12]

Hunter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Edward Hunter, aged 34, who landed in America in 1803 [12]
• Ann Hunter, aged 22, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 [12]
• David Hunter, aged 24, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 [12]
• Alexander Hunter, aged 21, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 [12]
• Eleanor Hunter, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 [12]

Hunter Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Edwin Osmond Hunter, who arrived in Alabama in 1926