Origins of the clan

The Hannays are from the ancient princedom of Galloway.^[1] The name appears to have originally been spelt Ahannay but its origin is uncertain.^[1] It could derive from the Scottish Gaelic Ultimately Irish Gaelic O'Hannaidh or Ap Shenaeigh.^[1]

Wars of Scottish Independence

In 1296, Gilbert de Hannethe appears on the Ragman Rolls submitting to Edward I of England.^[1] This could be the same Gilbert who acquired the lands of Sorbie.^[1] The Hannays were suspicious of Robert the Bruce's ambitions and instead supported the claim of John Balliol.^[1] Balliol was descended from the Celtic Princes of Galloway through his mother, Lady Devorgilla.^[1]

15th & 16th centuries

In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the Hannays extended their influence over the surrounding area including the building of Sorbie Tower which remained the seat of the Clan Chief until the seventeenth century.^[1]

17th century

At the beginning of the 17th century the Clan Hannay was locked in a deadly feud with the Clan Murray of Broughton.^[1] It resulted in the Hannays being outlawed.^[1] The consequences of this were that many Hannays emigrated to Ulster, where the name is still found in large numbers in County Antrim, County Down and County Armagh.^[1]

Patrick Hannay had a distinguished military career and was patronised by Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia, daughter of James VI of Scotland and sister of Charles I of England.^[1] After the death of Queen Anne who was the wife of James VI in 1619, Patrick Hannay composed two eulogies and in return had many published on his own death, one of which said: 'Go on in virtue, aftertimes will tell, none but Hannay could have done so well'.^[1]

Possibly the best known Hannay was James Hannay, the Dean of St Giles' in Edinburgh who had the claim to fame of being the target of Jenny Geddes' stool.^[1] In an infamous incident in 1637 the Dean had begun to read the new liturgy when with a cry of "Thou false thief, dost thou say Mass at my lug?" was heard and a stool came flying from the congregation, thrown by an incensed Jenny Geddes. The incident began a full-scale riot which took the town guard to control.^[1]

Sir Robert Hannay of Mochrum was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia In 1630.^[1] From the Sorbie roots the Hannays of Grennan, Knock, Garrie and Kingsmuir also evolved.^[1]