Clan Cunningham International, founded in 2002, is a non-political, non-sectarian, all-volunteer, non-profit corporation registered in the State of Tennessee. As a registered non-profit organization under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) (public educational charity), all donations to support its activities are tax-deductible within the limitation of federal tax codes for donors who are United States citizens.
Membership is open to all Cunninghams around the world by birth, marriage, or adoption, and to the descendants of the Associated Families of the Districts of Cunninghame and Ayrshire in Scotland, as well as to anyone with an interest in or wishing to promote the great heritage of Clan Cunningham.
The organization has evolved and grown greatly in these few short years and represents Clan Cunningham at Scottish Games and Celtic festivals all over the United States, Canada, Scotland and New Zealand, just to mention a few. And our members are found in all of these places and many others throughout the world.
Our Clan Chief, Sir John Christopher Foggo Montgomery Cuninghame of that Ilk, Chief of the Name and Arms of Cuninghame, Baronet of Corsehill, is a member of our Governing Council.
A list of Associated Families, list of our Governing Council, By-Laws, and other important information may be found on this website.
Clan Cunningham is a proud member of the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations and has been since 2002.
Chief’s Message
Dear Clan Members,
During the last year I have done little to contribute to the life and progress of Clan Cunningham. It has been a difficult and worrying year for me particularly as my wife, Laura, nearly had to spend Christmas in hospital for the second year running. Fortunately that did not happen and we had a quiet Happy Christmas at home. But that is enough about me.
I was on the point of sending an enthusiastic and inspiriting letter to you just after the start of the Highland Games season, but then came the terrible hurricanes followed by the floods and then the worst fires in California’s history. I thought you would have many more pressing thoughts on your mind and that it would be inappropriate to write such a letter to you at that moment of time. I pray that none of your relations or friends were involved in these disasters.
During the last few months I have spent some of my time refreshing my knowledge of the history of medieval Scotland. One of the subjects which interests me was the origins of the perceived differences between the Highlands and the Lowlands, or rather the Highlanders and the Lowlanders. I have no pretentions of being a scholar in Scottish history, but I thought the observations might be of interest to you. The full article can be viewed on the this website. I hope that all of you have had a very joyful Christmas and I warmly wish you a very successful and Happy New Year. If we each added one new member to the clan that would be one success.
With my best wishes,
John M. Cuninghame of that Ilk
President’s Message
From the President’s Pen, Summer 2025
Greetings! My name is Hampton Powers. I am both honored and humbled to have been elected to serve as CCI President for the next triennial period. Having been active on and off in the Scottish Movement here in the US since the early 1990s, I’ve enjoyed a long association with Clan Cunningham due to my mentor, David Pickens, who originally recruited me some time ago at Stone Mountain.
Like many who start out with nothing but a vague notion that they are somehow Scottish, I stumbled about for some time wondering where I belonged. So, you can imagine my delight when I discovered Clan Cunningham includes Powers as a sept. Home on my father’s side at last, with ties to Ayrshire, Scotland!
I am very excited to help CCI expand its three primary goals: growth, fellowship, and preservation. Growth will likely entail having a presence at more Scottish games and festivals.
For this we need your help; CCI can provide all the props and information, but we need volunteer members willing to host tents and encourage interested folks to join. Fellowship will reach beyond games through our website and social media. I hope many of you were able to join and enjoy or first virtual Triennial General Meeting this month. More such events are in the works to bring us together frequently across our vast area.
Preservation is twofold. First, we will continue to stabilize and enhance the historic Glencairn Aisle in Kilmaurs, Ayrshire, Scotland. Stay tuned for future fundraising activities. Second, we are working diligently to bring our genealogical records online via the website for the exclusive use of our members.
All in all, there is lots to do, and we plan to have fun doing it. Please reach out to me directly with any suggestions, questions, or concerns. I look forward to getting to know many of you in the months ahead. Let’s have another great triennial!
Hampton Powers
Your CCI President