The Ancient Hunter Tartan name is fairly common throughout Scotland. It is, of course, derived from the hunt (or chase) and in old documents is given as Venator. It is impossible to trace a common ancestor for this family who, in the 11th and 12th centuries, are found in the Highlands as well as in the Lowlands. The family of Hunter of Hunterston, Ayrshire, would appear to be the oldest family of the name. Other Hunter families were those of Polmood, Abbotshall, Auchterarder and Thurston. As mentioned above, the name was originally Latinised Venator, but by the 16th century the forms of Huntair, Hunayr, Hounttar and Hunttar were being used.The Hunters have a long history of military service and earned respect for their role as keepers of the royal Scottish forests.
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