Our Purpose

Established 1979

The Clan is founded as a voluntary not-for-profit tax exempt organization that is organized exclusively for fraternal, cultural, social charitable, and educational purposes.

The clan has a vested interest in the promotion and development of the traditional Scottish Arts as they relate to the origins of Scottish culture.

The Clan will pursue the advancement of education through hosted activities. It will also provide to organized educational institutions such as schools (public and private) , colleges, universities, and other charitable and educational groups, speakers who are knowledgeable in Scottish Culture, affairs, traditions, and how they influence our lives and our society. The Clan shall act as the center of, and the clearing house for, study and research into the Gospatric Earl of Dunbar line, in particular, and into the Scottish culture and people, in general, and into the influence both have had on our life, society and culture.

The Clan hosts tents at highland games across the US and seeks to gain membership and new connections with long lost relatives. Clan Dunbar publishes a quarterly newsletter, “The Lion and the Thistle,” which is distributed periodically world-wide. The Clan has five total Baronets in Burke’s Peerage. More importantly, the Clan has active members who help each other find common ancestors and create new memories. The Clan is actively promoting interest and knowledge of Scottish history and heritage.

All persons interested in Scottish history associated with the Dunbar name are invited to join. Especially those who are members of families associated with the following surnames: Blackadder, Clugston, Corbett, Dundas, Edgar, Grey, Herying, Home, Knox, Neville, Nisbett, Pepdie, Strickland, Washington, Wedderburn, and Whiteadder.

Clan Dunbar today represents over 200 active members interested in promoting a common heritage. Dunbar was originally a lowland family with both Scottish and English noble blood. They gained a foothold in the highlands with the acquisition of the Earldom of Moray through marriage to the Randolph family. Many of the current members descend from Dunbars in Moray.

Dunbars are historically prevalent in Scotland for over a thousand years, with an exciting history of wealth and power, tragedy, royalty, nobility and more. Modern America Clan Dunbar was inaugurated in Florida over forty years ago by the late Robert Bruce Dunbar and devoted families of Dunbars. The Chief of the Name is Sir James Michael. Dunbar, Baronet of Mochrum and our present Chieftain is David C. Dunbar of Tomball, Texas. The Clan became International in 2010.

The Clan Motto is Sub Spe, roughly translated “Under Hope.” The Clan has several Tartans registered with the Scottish Tartan Authority. Clan Dunbar members visit Scotland about every five years, taking large groups of members and friends to historic family castles, religious and other important sites, and activities such as the Edinburgh Tattoo. Planning is already underway for the 2024 Tour.

One of the most fascinating activities is the Dunbar DNA Project, which has connected Dunbars with not only their genealogical history but also present day relatives. The introduction of genealogy has built a network of researchers and writers, coordinated by our Clan Genealogist who have delved into the past and published outstanding books on the Clan Family. Coordination between DNA and Genealogy has assisted many Historians and Genealogists, as well as Clan members.

One of the most recent discoveries in Scotland was that of the bones of survivors of the march of prisoners from the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army overwhelmed the Scottish army, and over five thousand men were taken prisoner and marched to Durham, England where about three thousand survivors were held in the Cathedral. Many of the soldiers died on the march from their wounds, starvation and even more so when they arrived at Durham. Some of the survivors were later deported to become indentured workers on English possessions overseas. The survivors sent to the Ironworks at Saugus, MA, were a dominant group, and provided a rich family resource for their descendants. Robert Dunbar of Saugus and then Hingham became the progenitor of many, many of todays Dunbars.

Three hundred and sixty-five years later in 2015, bones were discovered in mass graves when renovations were begun to the University of Durham and were determined to be those of the Scottish prisoners. The remains were ultimately reburied in a nearby cemetery with due honors and ceremony.

Our Heritage