Hunter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hunter

What does the name Hunter mean?

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