THE MAIN ELEMENTS OF CUNNINGHAME
The Name of Cunninghame
Place Name
The great place name Cunninghame, which signifies by meaning “courage in battle,” and began in the 4th century came from “Cunedda” who was a king of the “Gododdin,” a Celtic branch of Britons known by the Romans as the “Votadini.” When the Dalriada Scots emigrated from Ireland in about 500AD, they were confronted by the Strathclyde Britons, the Gododdin Britons and the Picts. The name Cunedda eventually led to the names and words Cyning, Kynge and finally King. The “ham” signifies “hamlet” or small town and was probably added in Norman times. Still others claim that in the Celtic language Cunedda was rendered as Cinneidigh (meaning ugly or grim-headed). The name gradually became especially associated with the district of Carrick in Ayrshire, Scotland.
Surname
The district of Cunninghame took its name from the original Cunedda family of Britons. In the twelfth century, , Hugh de Moreville granted the manor of Cunninghame and most of the parish of Kilmaurs to his loyal warrior, Wernebald, progenitor of the Earls of Glencairn. The land which Wernebald received had been named Cunninghame for several centuries.
In the 12th century many landowners assumed the name of their estates as a last name, as did Wernebald’s sons and grandsons. Eventually Cunninghame became the name of the northern third of Ayrshire. Up until 1975, the County of Ayrshire had three districts: Cunninghame in the north, Kyle in the center and Carrick in the south.
The Clan Cunningham, Unicorn, Charge, and Motto
The Clan Cunningham motto, "Over Fork Over", refers to a story of Malcolm Canmore, the Prince of Scotland, who was fleeing from the soldiers of King MacBeth. Whilst trying to escape, Malcolm came upon a hay farmer, a commoner, who is said to have buried the young prince, "Over Fork Over " with hay, to hide him. This one act of selfless protection of the prince was blessed with the Thanedom of Cunninghame when years later in 1057/58, King Malcolm III (The Prince) defeated MacBeth and regained the Crown of Scotland.
The farmers name was Malcolm son of Friskin. There is no evidence that this son of Friskin took the Cunninghame surname, however, it was adopted by future generations of the family. Through the ages, much more land was given to the Clan Cunningham for such acts of noble service to the King of Scotland. The Clan Cunningham has spread all over the world into what it is today and we have all joined together under the Clan Cunningham International to unit all Cunninghames the world over.
The Clan Cunningham crest is adorned with a unicorn and the Clan motto. In ancient Cunningham tradition the unicorn is meant to represent "extreme courage, strength and virtue" and Clan Cunningham has been blessed with many people who have carried on the great achievements of the Clan Cunningham. Two such Cunningham's are Dennis Cunningham, 10th degree black belt and founder of the modern Cunningham battle prowess; and his son, Tyron Cunningham, an internationally renown ju-jitsu professor and grandmaster of the White Eagle Kempo Ju-Jitsu and the international program of Cunninghame Ju-Jitsu (Military/Police Ju-Jitsu) as well as director and chief instructor of the WESOMA Clan Cunningham Ju-Jitsu Academy.
The Unicorn
The unicorn has long stood as the symbol of the Clan Cunningham and now the WESOMA Clan Cunningham Ju-Jitsu Academy. It is thought that the unicorn is both horselike and goatlike. Through the ages the unicorn has been transformed into how the Clan Cunningham views the creature: Mostly equine though the hooves are cloven and he wears a goats beard. The unicorn has always been endowed in artistic fashion with a beauty to befit his noble endowment as an allegory of pure virtues. Because of this beauty and meaning, the unicorn made its way into the church as well as into heraldry. Given the unicorns nobility it is no wonder that he made his way into the Clan Cunningham family arms. Because of the role that the horse has had on civilization and because it is said that the Cunninghames were masters of the King's stables, the unicorn, at least with the Clan Cunningham is more equine in emphasis. Keeping the goats beard and cloven hooves, the unicorn of the Clan Cunningham also carries the lion's tail.
With Cunninghames being knights and nobility, the unicorn symbolizes the past deeds and future clan engagements and honors of the Clan Cunningham. As a fierce and an unparalleled fighter, the unicorn is seen a s gentle and chaste, beautiful and proud in his solitude. The unicorn is everything a Cunninghame Knight would want to be or would want to attain.
The unicorn is a fierce, proud, and dangerous creature. He contended all those who would seek to capture him. He loathed to be oppressed and loved freedom above all. He would rather die fighting than surrender and face captivity. There is no surprise why the Clan Cunningham, who struggled for centuries to remain free and independent. In this independence and freedom, the unicorn (Clan Cunningham) has always in their knightly visage and ideal fought to balance extreme power with it's collateral responsibility.
The WESOMA Clan Cunningham Ju-Jitsu Academy continues to utilize the crest and charge (the cunninghame ju-jitsu way) which exemplifies "The Unicorn", "The Motto", and "The Tartan" of the Clan Cunningham.
CLAN CUNNINGHAM JU-JITSU ACADEMY
WHITE EAGLE SCHOOL
OF MARTIAL ARTS
