Clan Hunter is a Scottish clan. History Origins of the clan It is likely that the Hunters went to Scotland with David I of Scotland upon his invitation and were given lands named Hunter's Toune. In 1296 Aylmer le Hunter of the county of Ayr appears on the Ragman Rolls submitting to Edward I of England. A charter signed by Robert II of Scotland on 2 May 1374 has survived that confirmed a grant of land to William Hunter for his faithful service rendered and to be rendered to us in return for a silver penny payable to the Sovereign at Hunterston on the Feast of Pentecost. To this day the Laird of Hunterston, chief of Clan Hunter keeps silver pennies, minted in the reigns of Robert II and George V in case of a royal visit on the day appointed for payment of her rent. The William Hunter who received this charter is reckoned to have been the tenth Hunter of Hunterston. In earlier records both William Hunter and Norman Hunter appear using the Latin form of the name, Venator. 15th and 16th centuries The Hunters were hereditary keepers of the royal forests of Arran and Little Cumbrae by the fifteenth century. The family appear to have held this office from an early date and also claim a long descent from people who held similar offices in England and Normandy before they came to Scotland. During the sixteenth century the Hunters rendered chiefly military service. John Hunter, the fourteenth Laird was killed with his king at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. His son was Robert who was trouble with sickness and infirmity and was excused from military service in 1542 by James V of Scotland, providing that he sent his eldest son in his place. His son was Mungo who was killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547. 17th century Successive generations of Hunters were more peaceful Lairds and tended to their estates and looked after their tenants. Robert Hunter who was a son of the twentieth Laird graduated at the University of Glasgow in 1643 and was minister of West Kilbride. He bought lands and founded the Hunters of Kirkland branch of the clan. A grandson of the twentieth Laird was another Robert Hunter who served under Marlborough and was Governor of Virginia and later Governor of New York. 18th and 19th centuries The family