Clunie (surname)

Clunie is a Scottish surname of territorial origin, derived from the lands of Clunie in Perthshire. The place name itself is likely derived from the Gaelic cluain, meaning "meadow" or "pasture."

The Clunie surname is associated with Clan MacThomas, also known as Clan Comyn, and families historically connected to that clan. While Clunie is not a clan name in its own right, families bearing the surname were typically associated with and owed allegiance to the chief of Clan MacThomas.

Variations of the surname include Cluney and Cluny.

The distribution of the Clunie surname is primarily within Scotland, particularly in the Perthshire area, and among the Scottish diaspora, especially in countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United States.

Notable individuals with the surname Clunie:

• Brown Derby Clunie: A 20th Century jockey who rode primarily in California.
• Robert Clunie: (1819-1867) A Scottish landscape painter.

The surname Clunie, therefore, represents a lineage rooted in the geographical landscape of Scotland and tied to the historical Clan MacThomas. Its presence continues as a marker of Scottish heritage among individuals and families worldwide.