The Jamieson name can be found among the septs of the
Clan Gunn. They are said to
have been descended from Gun, or Gunn, or Guin, second son of Olaus, or
Olav, the Black,
a Norwegian king of Man and the Isles, who died 18th June 1237.
Gun, the second of three sons of Olaf, is described as a man of great bravery, who lived in the Orcadian Isle of Graemsay in 1100. Gun or Guin is supposed to have received from his maternal grandfather, Farquhar, Earl of Ross, the possessions in Caithness. The earliest stronghold of the chief in that area was Halbury castle, or Easter Clythe, situated on a huge rock, overhanging the sea. From a later chief who held the office of coroner, it was called Crowner Gun's Castle.
The Crowner's eldest son, James, succeeded as chief. He moved with his family and the greater portion of his clan, into Sutherland. From then on, the main residence of the chiefs was Killernan, in the parish of Kildonan. That house was accidentally destroyed by fire about 1690. From this chief, the patronymic of Mac-Sheumais, or MacKeamish, (that is, the son of James), which then became the Gaelic sept-name of the chiefs, is derived. From this chief of the clan Gunn, come the descendants Jameson and Jamieson.
Motto - "Either peace or war"
Another description of Clan Gunn's origins
The name Gunn is thought to be Norse in origin. The clan claims descent from Gunni, grandson of Sweyn Asleifsson, "the Ultimate Viking" and second son of Olave the Black, Norse King of Man and the Isles who died in 1237. Noted for their war-like and ferocious character, they were sworn enemies of the Keiths and in 1426 at Harpsdale, south of Thurso, a particularly bloody but indecisive battle took place, after which the Gunns settled mainly in Sutherland. George Gunn held the office of Coroner of Caithness, and became known as "Crowner Gunn", one of the greatest men in the country at that time who lived in rich and magnificent style in his castle at Clyth. He was killed through treachery in 1464 while trying to arrange a reconciliation with Clan Keith. His death was later avenged by his grandson who killed Keith of Ackergill, his son and twelve followers at Drummoy. Feuds continued between the Gunns and the Mackays and the Earls of Caithness and Sutherland. In 1585 the Earls attacked the Gunns who, although fewer in number held their ground and slew 140 of their enemies. Only darkness prevented greater slaughter. However, the Gunns were later defeated at Lochbroom by the Earl of Sutherland. At the time of the Highland clearances in Sutherland, many of the Gunn clan were forced to emigrate to New Zealand, Australia and Canada.