'Over Fork Over' and the Clan Cunningham

[@PaZaTz55]

kimberly jean cunningham here, AND VERY PROUD TO BE OF CLAN CUNNINGHAM. OVER FORK OVER!

[@lizcunningham1069]

I AM A CUNNINGHAM AND PROUD TO BE LOVE THE HISTORY OF THE CUNNINGHAM CLAN

[@rogergriffith286]

Quite right

[@hectorcunningham9966]

Cunningham from Mexico here, great to know the origin of our name.

[@PaZaTz55]

THANK YOU ROGER GRIFFITH FOR A FINE POST ON CUNNINGHAM

[@rogergriffith286]

Thanks - appreciated

[@chriscunynghame9235]

Hi Roger My dad told me a very similar story to your version 1, but it was set in a field. The rest is the same, the fleeing man threw himself down and cried "over, fork over", which our kinsman duly did. Apparently he was building a haystack at the time. He was later rewarded with a Baronetcy. The story was in response to my question about the origin and meaning of the 'over fork over' which appears on the little wooden plaque we had with the Cunynghame coat of arms on it. He also related another anecdote, details of which I can barely remember but if memory serves, the gist of it was that another of our kinsmen happened to be around when word came of a 'succession', for want of a better word. He cried out something to the effect "hey, you're King!". I'm not 100% sure it was King either, it might have been Queen. I'm so sorry I don't remember the details better. I was about 13 at the time and this was 40 years ago. My father was an extremely articulate and well spoken man. I often wonder now where he got his information from. There was of course no internet back then. Needless to say I was exceedingly surprised to find your video clip. Well done and thank you for taking the trouble to document and preserve all this family history. Christopher Cunynghame

[@rogergriffith286]

Thank-you. Your father may have had access to any of several old books that tell these tales. Your second story doesn't sound familiar. I will get back to you if anything comes to mind. Have a look at the references for my article for some sources - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmaurs_Place

[@nicolacunningham2439]

be proud cunninghams our history is great

[@deerslayer5863]

I'm proud Cunningham

[@PaZaTz55]

we are an awesome clan, CUNNINGHAM.

[@starvelboi7776]

Yes except from a period where we er did some unpleasant er stuff I’ll leave it at that 😅

[@johncunningham8213]

We in the American branch share great pride for our ancient and great house.

[@johncunningham8213]

@@starvelboi7776 When in doubt, blame the Montgomeries. Lol

[@savag3salad813]

Daniel Cunningham here in New England

[@bettyhoneyman7728]

My Grandmother was a Cunninghame from New Zealand. Her father. Robert, was from Stewarton, his mother as a Morgan.

[@rogergriffith286]

Stewarton is very much Cunningham country!

[@Bicyclebradley]

Thanks Roger, neat little bit of history!

[@rogergriffith286]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@playnemonty7861]

My mother's a Cunningham. Father's a Montgomerie. Interesting history they both have.

[@LoadingCashout22]

Whoa. Thats romeo and juliet right there! Thats cool

[@BabyBoomersDoomer]

😅

[@jamieb0nd]

James Cunningham here. We are everwhere! God Bless the Cunninghams. Over Fork over brethren 🙌☺️💕👍,

[@rogergriffith286]

A great clan. I am an honorary member of the Clan Cunningham

[@jamieb0nd]

@@rogergriffith286 Thankyou Roger I feel honoured 👍

[@CUNNINGHAMFAMILYFACTION]

My grandfather’s name was James Cunningham. I love reading this name!

[@johncunningham8213]

The Cunningham clan is strong here in Louisiana USA.

[@Willa-MUTTDogTraining]

I'm a cunnington which is i guess a Cunningham a cording to a ancestry search reveal. I used to live in Leesville, but now I'm in desperate straights in oregon trapped by an abusive step dad an a im 35, but believe me when I use the word trapped. Any suggestions?

[@liplockednomore]

I'm a Cunningham. Thank you for this series.

[@rogergriffith286]

I am an glad you enjoy them

[@30aught6]

William Cunningham here in California. As a young Lad I used to Buck Hay for six seasons and tended to Horses. I guess it's in my Blood.

[@rogergriffith286]

Sounds likely :-)

[@code99firefightertributes]

I like this a lot and am going to thoroughly check out later. I thumbed up and subbed. I'm a Cunningham Clan member. Thank u!

[@rogergriffith286]

Thanks for subbing. I am an honorary Clan Cunningham

[@jackswicegoodiii9227]

Just found out my 5th? Generation grandfather was from the Cunningham clan that was exiled to Ireland. He made his way to the American colonies in 1728. Pretty wild stuff!!

[@rogergriffith286]

A famous and distinguished clan.

[@elcunningham7677]

I’ve never seen so many Cunningham’s in one place

[@SCCunningham8]

Proud to be a Cunningham (Cunyngham, Cunynghame) 'Kings Home'

[@vulcanpilot-go7dj]

Matthew s Cunningham here , Naples Florida.

[@michaelcunningham954]

Cunningham from Melbourne Australia

[@rogergriffith286]

Have a look at 'The Corsehill Castles, the Cunninghams and Stewarton

[@davidcunningham7907]

Hello my fellow clansmen ( From Scotland)

[@johncunningham8213]

Hello cousin. (Louisiana, USA)

[@rickyvw9830]

Ricky Cunningham here. Hello from Nottingham england.

[@Afro1Pigeon]

@@rickyvw9830 Hello Ricky my Grandfather and mother are cunninghams I adopted many of their features! From Nottinghamshire aswell!!

[@holsteincowboy]

Interesting video.There is a castle ruin in my yard which i believe was the property of a Cunningham around 1600 .It's called Clonbeith Castle near Kilwinning.

[@rogergriffith286]

I have written an article about your castle on Wikipedia. Good to hear that you appreciate its significance

[@lauracupido9364]

My grandmother was a Cunningham who married a Botha in region of Tsitsikamma in South Africa proud of our family heritage

[@rogergriffith286]

so you should be - a lot of history linked to the Cunninghams

[@alastaircunningham558]

Can you tell please me where the Buckshead Tavern is. Doesn't look as if it is the one in Galston...

[@rogergriffith286]

It used to be in a lane that sits off High Street near the junction with Avenue Street. The bricked up back door can still be seen with the words 'Over Fork Over' carved on the lintel.

[@alastaircunningham558]

@@rogergriffith286 . Thanks. In Stewarton?

[@rogergriffith286]

@@alastaircunningham558 Yes. Robert Burns visited his Uncle Robert here on his way to Dunlop House where Frances Dunlop lived.

[@shanecunningham305]

This is like a virtual family reunion

[@rogergriffith286]

Glad to hear it :-)

[@TwitchyGizmo]

Cunningham from Georgia USA here GO DAWGS. Does anyone have the address of the old Buckshead tavern? Visiting Scotland for the 1st time next month and would love to see it.

[@rogergriffith286]

It no longer exists. The entrance is opposite the Stewarton Co-Op shop. Over Fork Over is carved on a stone here.

[@TwitchyGizmo]

@@rogergriffith286 thanks for the heads up! Tioraidh an drasta!

[@Dr.Cheese]

As a fellow Cunningham, its so cool seeing all these distant relatives in the comments!

[@rogergriffith286]

It's good to get feedback from the clan members

[@sapphirus777]

Recently found the Earls in my family tree. 9th+ GG fathers.

[@rogergriffith286]

Have a look at Wikipedia - I have written several articles that involve the Cunninghames.

[@chriscunynghame9235]

Thanks Roger for that most interesting link, that's quite a body of work! If you don't mind my asking, how did you become interested in the Clan Cunningham? With regard to the second story, it was a long shot but I thought I'd 'put it out there' anyway, just in case someone could verify it or expand on it. I'm so sorry now I didn't pay more attention at the time. Dad would have been a centenarian this year (or 25 leap years) were he still alive. Roger, with all the many variant spellings of the Cunningham name - doesn't it complicate terribly the tracing and untangling of all the genealogy? The title bestowed on Warnebald Cunningham by King Malcolm, it's still extant isn't it? Who holds it now? My apologies in advance if the answer is in the link you furnished, I have not yet studied it in depth. (I'm replying as a comment as the page won't let me post in response to your response)

[@rogergriffith286]

The Earldom of Glencairn has been in abeyance since John Cunningham, 15th Earl of Glencairn (1750-1796) died without issue. The present head of the Clan is Sir John Christopher Foggo Montgomery Cuninghame of Corsehill, 12th Baronet of Corsehill (born 24 July 1935). Yes the spelling is very confusing, one of the major history text comments on it with frustration. Apparently different cadet branches did keep tp their particular spelling. Personally I rather like your spelling - very 'oldy worldy'. The Warnebald story is very complex and facts are hard to verify. My interest as a historian in the clan has been a progressive immersion - you can't turn over a stone here without finding a Cunyghame. You were lucky to have a father who shared old family tales - it's now a rarity in our electronic world. I have been racking my brain for a link wit your memory. The only faint link is that Anne of Denmark saved a Cunninghame from execution after the Cunninghames murdered the 4th Earl of Eglinton at Stewarton (my home area). I have all sorts of other KZbin videos about the clan - try typing in 'Cunningham Roger Griffith'.

[@chriscunynghame9235]

Hi Roger, Thanks, I'll check out those videos and search as you suggested. For what it's worth, I stumbled across this one after searching 'over fork over'. I must confess it wouldn't have occurred to me to search variant spellings of our name. The Y in the spelling certainly complicates the filling in of forms etc (when dictated), and it absolutely slays the telesales folk as most find it completely unpronounceable. Now imagine all that taking place in Africa. In fact, the Y only recently made sense to me while I was reading the Wiki on King Edward the Sixth. Extract from Wiki about Edward the Sixth concerning his funeral... "a grett company of chylderyn in ther surples" and watched by Londoners "wepyng and lamenting"; the funeral chariot, draped in cloth" Then later... "or, as William Patten reported, "I lyke not thys wooyng."" ...in reference to Edwards betrothal and the war that followed when the Scots reneged on the treaty. So it seems 'Y' was used in place of 'I' in many instances as well as in the more familiar sense. The extract "wepyng and lamenting" is interesting because lamenting doesn't get the 'Y', where I would have expected it to - same author and presumably an educated man. No wonder there is confusion! Africa (South): Yes there is a connection. A Cunynghame fought with Lord Chelmsford in the Anglo Zulu Wars and there is a fort named after him in the Eastern Cape. According to dad he was my great (or great great) grandfather. I might have a photo of the 'fort' somewhere. If memory serves it's not much more than a stone hut really, but a piece of history nonetheless. Perhaps when you run out of Cunninghams you might want to check out the Cunynghames. There should be a bit more info in Burke's Peerage, places of birth, ranks etc.

[@rogergriffith286]

Interesting. What was called 'court hand' was a highly regulated writing system and it is probably the case that the use of the 'y' and the 'i' had clear rules, The use of the 'f' -like letter for an 's' is a case in point.

[@carolcunningham7646]

Just want to say whatmy father used to tell me, cunninghams are all born in February! Good work. Now Jeannie, get back iyyin ur bottle. - cc

[@carolcunningham7646]

@@rogergriffith286 Griffith! I know them in Texas! They're my cousins, i find out

[@michaelconaghan9190]

Roger thank you for this - Irish Conaghan of Ayrshire descent and My grandfather used to return to relatives in Ayrshire to work. Always understood a strong link to the Cunningham clann as share the same Coat of Arms and Cunningham cousins. Love to know if others have any more history or connection of Conaghan spelling to this story.

[@rogergriffith286]

Glad you enjoyed the video

[@Eric-ho3mo]

that castle is my great-great grandfathers

[@lannaduncan]

Mine also 😘

[@kencunningham6063]

I'm an American Cunningham. I'm very proud of my Scottish Heritage.

[@rogergriffith286]

Quite right.

[@michaelc774]

lets go cunninghams

[@bo_309]

What does over fork over mean?

[@rogergriffith286]

To use a pitch fork to cover a person with straw so they were hidden.

[@newyorkcasey6106]

Cuttingham from New York. !!

[@rogergriffith286]

They are everywhere :-)

[@kevincthespud322]

Everybody in the comments is distantly related😂

[@charlottecunningham3323]

Cunningham crew

[@lannaduncan]

I am a direct descendent of the Gaberiel Cunynghame 3rd Laird Craigends Ancestry search

[@rogergriffith286]

A significant clan.

[@USAMAURICE42]

Cunningham here

[@petdogsareslaveschallengem4608]

AWSOME I'M A CUNNINGHAM (JAMES) !!!!! :)

[@rogergriffith286]

Thanks

[@PaZaTz55]

kim cunningham here, hello james!

[@jamieb0nd]

Same here James 😀👍❤️

[@shh120]

My mother was an Ohio Cunningham. Thank you for sharing this.

[@rogergriffith286]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@aprilcunningham9887]

my clan

[@LoadingCashout22]

Whats up family!

[@andycunningham8842]

my people

[@rogergriffith286]

Have a look - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJPZm6dupZakl6s

[@kerri.e.5]

Another Cunningham here- from what I can research, my line wound up in IL after leaving NC after the Civil War & it's looking like my ancestors were the...black sheep that wound up as English indentured servants & that's how they got to the United States. Hard to trace illiterate people. Anyway, this is great video & hope by some thin thread my family would tie into the cool stuff. :)

[@rogergriffith286]

Thanks - glad that you liked it

[@carolcunningham7646]

Ii want to tell the Cunningham's from the south during the times of slavery, when slaves were freed, they some- times took their masters name if they hadn't been cruel to them. My father sat me down iyyin his den/office 2 c The blacks on tv playing basketball and their names r Cunningham! Dad said these r our cousins awe, i love ahye black soul! Be of jolly good reference. Ime pulling upp the rear. Ime proud of ur name. Looking for the Bruce. Keep you all in contact. Will.do...my father said, what a story teller he could recite The jack in the beanstalk as well as his uncle jack the bootlegger mmm that was good stuff. I had the last bottle in my hands called old grand dad. Was smo.o.othe! With his well water. Daddies cum goodstie in the Calvert, on their way. Look up! Carol

[@ericcunningham5147]

Visited Edinburgh, Inverness and Glasgow. Saw the coat of arms in the Great Hall of Stirling Castle and the Glasgow Cathedral.

[@rogergriffith286]

A wide ranging visit

[@davidbagley1783]

Any Cunningham from Michigan? Ford company

[@lcunningham1776]

Ralph Cunningham

[@carolcunningham7646]

I remember my fathers. - 6 boys, 6 bros. always fighting at the tables and, being the youngest till I was 5, I what, guessed it, I sat on mommies lap. I know so well we cunninghams are from east Ayrshire. Is there a dunby castle or busby I don't know 🎉what is rolling around iyyin there. But you might add the hard work wee do, always proud ovit. We have alot to be said for, even still...😢😅

[@rogergriffith286]

There was a Busbie Castle - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busbie_Castle

[@morgmorg7116]

Let’s unite together brothers 😂

[@BravoCharlie224]

This is awesome

[@rogergriffith286]

A valued Stewarton landmark

[@Appalachian1984]

Clan Cunningham in West Virginia.

[@jackswicegoodiii9227]

Any relation to Phebe Tucker Cunningham?

[@Bluesachwill]

WHAT'S UP MY FELLOW CUNNINGHAM'S?! OVER FORK OVER WE TAKING OVER BABY LET'S GOOOOOOOOOO CUNNINGHAM CLAN FOR LIFE WE WILL NEVER DIE!!!!

[@rogergriffith286]

Battlecry 'Glencairn' :-)

[@davidbagley1783]

My great grandfather was William Jeffrey Cunningham born in 1881 in Irvine

[@rogergriffith286]

An excellent Clan Cunningham International Facebook page exists.

[@CrispyCian]

Woo hoo

[@davidbagley1783]

My great grandfather was born in Irvine in 1881 William Jeffrey Cunningham

[@tomcunningham9318]

Umm...nice tower, where's the rest of my castle?

[@rogergriffith286]

Never was very large

[@tomcunningham9318]

@@rogergriffith286 Family trait, sad to say😎

[@jaycee2392]

Hello all,my name is John Loudon Cunningham,born in Irvine ayrshire 1963 in the old part where the harbour is,so far iv found 7 John Cunninghams in my family going back from me,all Ayrshire men but a few different spelling in old Gaelic.👍

[@rogergriffith286]

I taught at Loudoun Academy for several years. You come from the Fullarton area I take it. Have a look at the 'Glencairn Aisle' Wikipedia article for a lot of Cunningham information - we have a Facebook Group as well - Glencairn Aisle & Monument

[@jaycee2392]

Thats cool,yes im from the Fullarton area,iv seen near all ur video,s,very interesting and good watching,think iv been down every route going about the Cunningham name over the years.

[@rogergriffith286]

@@jaycee2392 Good that you have been watchig my videos.

[@jaycee2392]

Its nice to see others have a intrest in Ayrshire,

[@garycunningham9216]

Love it.

[@rogergriffith286]

Worth a visit.

[@mackenzie9446]

Cunningham from Melbourne, Australia

[@icy1512]

I'm a Cunningham 3rd generation from the US. I need to do research.

[@rogergriffith286]

Plenty of good books and websites to help you :-)

[@samdaman06]

My 13th great-grandmother was a Cunningham.

[@rogergriffith286]

Significant lowland clan

[@bernadettelanders7306]

So I’m double Scottish with Cunningham heritage and I was born a Stuart My great grandmother was born in Ireland with the surname Cunningham. I’ve always assumed, like Cunningham was an Irish surname. She emigrated to Australia mid 1800s and married my Great Great grandfather who emigrated to Australia from England. they married, they had a daughter., she married a Stuart of Scottish heritage they had my father, so I was born a Stuart . I’m a double Scott born in Australia lol Was he saying Steward or Stewart or Stuart. ? I couldn’t understand his accent

[@rogergriffith286]

The name Steward became Stewart and was changed to Stuart by Mary Queen of Scots who had married a French dauphin.

[@bernadettelanders7306]

@@rogergriffith286 oh yeah. forgot, heard that years ago. Thanks for letting me remember again But am I royal? lol 😂 . My sisters name is Mary lol. But we don’t have any crowns hanging around lol

[@natecunningham5657]

Clan Cunningham in Kansas

[@rogergriffith286]

You may be interested in this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJPZm6dupZakl6s

[@davidbagley1783]

Hello Kansas.. I lived in Baldwin City..just outside of Lawrence

[@davidcunningham00]

I was adopted by Clayton Morton Cunningham, I'm proud of my dad's last name

[@rogergriffith286]

And so you should be - a clan of great distinction

[@LadyGreyAgeingDisGracefully]

I married into the Cunningham clan in Southland, New Zealand. I’ve delivered three sons. Did my part for the name. 😜😁

[@rogergriffith286]

It seems to be a very successful Clan.

[@louisejoel]

I am derived in part from a Cunningham and also live in NZ. If anyone has a problem with that they can Fork Over 🤣🦄

[@acobhrambler2432]

Im a Proud cunnigham here..My father is A drogheda man

[@Michael-fy5pu]

nice story

[@rogergriffith286]

Thanks for watching

[@oliversexperiments3226]

I’m a descendant of the Cunningham clan! Over Fork Over!

[@rogergriffith286]

Have a look at 'The Glencairn Aisle and Monument, Kilmaurs' page on Facebook for the Cunningham Earl's burial place

[@EngineeringTablet-x3u]

My mother was a Cunynghame

[@davidbagley1783]

My mom's side came out of the Crawfords.. Ancestors Mom Grandma Iva 1919-2001 Isaac V Wamsley Jr 1875-1930 Isaac V Wamsley Sr 1836-1908 Isaac Wamsley III 1798-1868 Isaac Harvey Wamsley Jr 1778-1825 Isaac Harvey Wamsley Sr 1735-1825 Revolutionary War Veteran Leah Stout Wamsley wife 1742-1820 Daughter of Dr Jonathan Stout 1704-1775 Richard Stout 1678-1749 John Stout 1645-1724 Middletown NJ Son of Richard 1615-1705 and Penelope..1622-1732 New Amsterdam and Gravesend (Coney Island) Elizabeth Crawford Stout wife 1650-1730 Ayshire Scotland Daughter of John Crawford 1618-1698 12th Lord Patrick Crawford 1580-1649 11th Lord William Crawford 1560-1644 10th Lord Patrick Crawford 1530-1560 7th Lord Thomas Crawford 1505-1541 6th Lord James Crawford 1470-? 5th Lord Robert Crawford 1435-1513 4th Lord Archibald Crawford 1389-? 3rd Lord Thomas Crawford 1350-1401 2nd Lord Reginald Crawford 1317-1358 1st Laird Reginald Crawford 1283-1358 Fought at Bannockburn 1314 along with Robert the Bruce and received Lordship for his services. Hugh Crawford ? -1319 Sir Reginald Crawford of Loudon 1255-1297 Sister Margaret married Malcolm Wallace, mother of Sir William Wallace

[@rogergriffith286]

Nice to know your roots.

[@davidbagley1783]

@@rogergriffith286 ... thank you