Cumming
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The Cummings claim descent
from the de Commines from Artois and Picardy.
Robert de Comyn came to England with William the
Conqueror and was created Earl of Northumberland
in 1069. His grandson Richard came to Scotland
and married Hexstilda of Tynedale, whose mother
was Bethock, daughter of Donald Bane, last Celtic
king of Scotland. Their son became Earl of
Buchan. They united both the Anglo Normans and
the Celts and were the most powerful family in
Scotland. In their ranks they had three earls,
one lord and thirty two knights. They helped the
boy king Alexander III to withstand an English
takeover, and helped to drive out the Norwegians
at the Battle of Largs in 1263. After
Alexander’s fatal accident, two Comyns, the
Earl of Monteith and the Lord of Badenoch, were
among the six regents.
The Comyns supported King John
Balliol and William Wallace. John, the Red Comyn,
was joint guardian of Scotland after the Battle
of Falkirk, and defeated three English armies in
one day at Roslin in 1302.
John Comyn, who represented
the legitimate Royal line, stood between Robert
the Bruce and the throne. Bruce stabbed him in
the Church of the Convent of the Minorite Friars,
along with his uncle, Sir Robert Comyn, and
branded them traitors of Scotland. The Comyn
lands were destroyed with fire and sword and the
main line was exterminated. Comyn’s son fell
at Bannockburn, fighting against his
father’s murderer.
The House of Altyre claims
descent from Sir Robert Cumming, who died with
his nephew, the Red Comyn. His son was exempt
from the destruction of the clan in 1320. In 1657
Robert Cumming of Altyre married Lucy Gordon of
Gordonstoun, and their great grandson was created
a baronet in 1804, taking name Gordon-Cumming of Altyre.
In the 15th century some
Cummings joined the clan by accepting Gibbon mor
Cumming as their protector. Of different clans,
they took his name and were upended in the hen
trough by way of baptism. They were known as
Cummings of Hen-Stone.
An ancient abbot of Iona was
called Comyn in 699. Fort Augustus was originally
called after him, Cill-Chuimein. |
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Clan
Tartans
