As a Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Maud of Scotland, wife of King David I, Ava was a female personal assistant to the Queen, a noblewoman of lower rank.
Being a lady-in-waiting was a position of high honor. The lady's family had to be of good birth and wealthy enough to afford the clothing that being in court required, which was no mean feat when diamonds were sewn on skirts in later centuries.
Ladies-in-waiting were not maids in the strictest sense: they had servants of their own. They were more of a companion or chaperone for the Queen. A lady-in-waiting's duties might include reading to the queen, helping her with embroidery projects, playing music, or just gossiping to entertain her.
Ava was married to Guillaume le Chevalier du Chasse [William the Hunter], one of the Royal huntsmen to King David I of Scotland. Before her marriage, his wife had been Maud, Countess of Huntingdon, William the Conqueror's grand-niece.
William the Hunter must have excelled at his job of providing Royal Court with meat and game, for King David appointed him as his Chief Hunter in Scotland in 1116.
William put his expertise to good use in the wild forests and fens, then rich with wildlife, which surrounded the timber fortress later to become Hunter's Toun, or Hunterston as it is known today. As recognition of his family's skills, the title of Royal Huntsman became a hereditary appointment.
The Chief Hunter eventually took the surname Hunter. At first glance, the name Hunter would seem to be a common one and, therefore, one would think that it originated in numerous locations throughout the English-speaking world. Such is not the case. While most people hunted in support of their immediate families, the occupation of hunter was quite restricted.
Most public land was held in the name of the king and only his royal huntsmen were allowed to hunt game on that land and then only to supply meat for the royal family.
It is from these early settlers after the Norman Conquest that the Lairds of Hunterston descend. Clan Hunter is privileged to have the original family castle in Scotland, located southwest of Glasgow, in an excellent state of preservation.
With the exception of those who have changed their names or of slaves who adopted the Hunter name from a former owner or other family, all Hunters throughout the world originate from the Hunters of Hunterston.
I am a proud member of Clan Hunter and am distantly related to Ava and William.
Ladies-in-waiting were not maids in the strictest sense: they had servants of their own. They were more of a companion or chaperone for the Queen. A lady-in-waiting's duties might include reading to the queen, helping her with embroidery projects, playing music, or just gossiping to entertain her.
Ava was married to Guillaume le Chevalier du Chasse [William the Hunter], one of the Royal huntsmen to King David I of Scotland. Before her marriage, his wife had been Maud, Countess of Huntingdon, William the Conqueror's grand-niece.
William the Hunter must have excelled at his job of providing Royal Court with meat and game, for King David appointed him as his Chief Hunter in Scotland in 1116.
William put his expertise to good use in the wild forests and fens, then rich with wildlife, which surrounded the timber fortress later to become Hunter's Toun, or Hunterston as it is known today. As recognition of his family's skills, the title of Royal Huntsman became a hereditary appointment.
The Chief Hunter eventually took the surname Hunter. At first glance, the name Hunter would seem to be a common one and, therefore, one would think that it originated in numerous locations throughout the English-speaking world. Such is not the case. While most people hunted in support of their immediate families, the occupation of hunter was quite restricted.
Most public land was held in the name of the king and only his royal huntsmen were allowed to hunt game on that land and then only to supply meat for the royal family.
It is from these early settlers after the Norman Conquest that the Lairds of Hunterston descend. Clan Hunter is privileged to have the original family castle in Scotland, located southwest of Glasgow, in an excellent state of preservation.
With the exception of those who have changed their names or of slaves who adopted the Hunter name from a former owner or other family, all Hunters throughout the world originate from the Hunters of Hunterston.
I am a proud member of Clan Hunter and am distantly related to Ava and William.
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If you would like to know more about Clan Hunter, please visit the website: http://www.clanhunter.org.uk/Please be aware that the link takes you away from this site.
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If you would like to know more about being a noblewoman in the Middle Ages, please click here. Please be aware that the link takes you away from this site.
