This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DYC.2ACE/313.1.1.1 Message Board Post: I met someone from The Netherlands with an aunt whose name was Gunning (very different pronunciation from our English one!). I also had a letter from someone completely unrelated in The Netherlands who was trying to trace the Gunning family line. >From this I was led to believe that the family originated in the European Low Countries, and came to England with William of Orange in the 17th century, where they were awarded lands in Ireland. William of Orange had a policy to subdue Catholicism in Ireland by confiscating land belonging to Catholics, and awarding it to faithful Protestants, and this could be part of that story. In Regency times in England, a family of Gunnings came to the Prince's court from Ireland, Charles Gunning, and his two sisters, Anne and Elizabeth. The two ladies took the court by storm with their great beauty, and Elizabeth married the Duke of Argyle. I have been unable to trace any connection with any of these famous Gunnings, unfortunately! However, it is very interesting to know that it is such a common name in PA, since it is quite uncommon in Great Britain as far as I know. Did the family(ies) emigrate from GB, or from other European locations, do you know? I wrote to you because we share the name. I was christened Jennifer Ann Gunning (married and divorced twice, and reverted to my maiden name). I am very pleased to meet you, and wish you the best of luck with your search!