Welcome to Clan Cunningham International!

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 US 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 presence isn’t limited strictly to the US! We now have members in New Zealand, England, Canada, and Scotland.

Our Clan Chief, Sir John Christopher Foggo Montgomery 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 web-site.

Clan Cunningham is a proud member of the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations since 2002.

It is with great sadness that we report the loss of one of our own, Jerry Lester.  Jerry most recently was serving as Clan Cunningham International’s webmaster and parliamentarian, and as a member on our Governing Council. His wife, Kathy, currently serves as our membership director. Jerry was an integral member of Clan Cunningham Society of America and a founding member of Clan Cunningham USA and later Clan Cunningham International. We ask all our members to offer their thoughts, prayers, and condolences to Jerry’s wife, Kathy, and to the rest of his family at this time of loss. He will be greatly missed.

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 Clan’s website (www.clancunninghamintl.org)  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

Fellow CCI Members,

Well, March turned into April, which turned into May and here we are on July 28 (as I write this) and Covid is still with us. We are mourning the cancellation of games and festivals and the ability to gather together with large groups of our friends. And, unfortunately, some of us are mourning the loss of family members and friends who may have succumbed to this virus. Regardless of our individual beliefs regarding this pandemic, regardless of whether one chooses to wear a mask or not, to attend large group functions or to stick close to home, regardless of your sentiments related to reopening our communities, please remember to be kind to each other. Just because you may choose not to wear a mask, please don’t ridicule those who do. While some see this as nothing more than another flu virus, please recognize that, with over 180,000 deaths in six months’ time (again at the time I am writing this) there are many among us who view this as something more serious than the flu. Be kind and respectful to others. I won’t spin this into a political conversation, as politics is not part of our organization’s mission. I hope that all of you are staying safe in your own chosen ways and that that will continue as we wait for science and experts to help us find a way out of this pandemic. I hope that we will all be able to gather soon at our favorite festivals and with our favorite family members and friends. Until we find ourselves on the other side of this pandemic.

I remain respectfully,

Your CCI President, Sheryl Cunningham

Scholarship Fund

Announcing the Launch of the  Clan Cunningham International Educational Scholarship Fund Program:

Clan Cunningham International was pleased to announce the implementation of its first annual Educational Scholarship Fund Program starting on January 1, 2019.

Educational scholarship awards will be available to CCI members age 10 and older who wish to further their education in studies pertaining to Scottish and/or Clan Cunningham history, culture, music, dance, genealogy, or any other viable project that will promote Scottish culture.  Awards will be based on merit, not financial need. Up to $300 will be awarded to each recipient chosen by the CCI Educational Scholarship Fund Committee and approved by the CCI Governing Council.

The application form contains the Program rules and requirements that applicants must meet.  All completed applications must be received by the Committee by March 15. The Committee will name the award recipients on or before April 15.

Contributions to the Scholarship Fund made in 2019 will be applied to funding awards for the 2020 Program. Any funds not awarded in 2019 will be added to those of the 2020 Program.

If you have any questions, please contact Sheryl Cunningham, Chair of the Educational Scholarship Fund Committee, whose contact information can be found at the bottom of the 2020 application form.

Please go to the “Documents” page for complete details and Application form, etc.