Royal huntsmen to a succession of monarchs, the Hunters proudly adopted the name of this important skill as their surname, acquiring honours, lands and titles along the way.
• One of the few families who still retain their original seat, Hunterston, in the north of Ayrshire, the Hunters can boast a noble pedigree that includes warriors who fought for Scotland's freedom during the Wars of Independence and pioneering physicians who revolutionised the world of medical science.
• John, the 14th Laird of Hunterston, fell along with King James IV at the battle of Flodden in 1513, while Mungo, the 16th Laird, fell 34 years later, at the battle of Pinkie, near Musselburgh.
