CREST: A lion rampant Or, holding in his dexter paw a dagger, Proper.

Cumming

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.