DENOON, a surname, assumed from the lands and barony of Dunoon in Argyleshire. In Douglas’ Baronage of Scotland, page 456, there is an account of the ancient family of Denoon of Cadboll in Ross-shire, an estate now (1862) belonging to Mr. Aeneas Macleod.

Sir Arthur de Denune flourished in the reign of King Alexander the Third, by whom he was knighted. In a charter of James lord-high-steward of Scotland, dated in 1294, confirming the donations of the predecessors of Sir Arthur de Denoon to the monastery of Paisley, the witnesses are Robert, bishop of Glasgow, John, the brother of the lord-high-steward, Sir Arthur de Denoon, Sir Nicholas Campbell, and Sir Reginald Crawford, knights, and William de Shaw and Alexander de Normanville, esquires. Sir Arthur and Sir Guy de Denune, supposed to be his brother, were among the Scots barons who swore fealty to Edward I. of England in 1296. (Prynne’s Coll. Vol. iii. pp. 655, 658.)

From these two personages most of the Denoons in Scotland were descended, and their posterity were free barons in different counties of that kingdom some centuries ago.

In 1334, Colin Campbell of Lochow, the ancestor of the dukes of Argyle, was made hereditary governor of the castle of Dunoon, and had the grant of certain lands for the support of his dignity. Duncan Campbell, one of his posterity, having had some feuds with his neighbours, also vassals of Argyle, plundered their possessions and stole their cattle. For these depredations the earl of Argyle put him on his trial, though his kinsman, and he was condemned to be drowned in the Clyde. Duncan, however, escaped, and with his brother, Donald, fled to the north, where he settled. His mother having been a daughter of the family of Denune, he assumed that surname, which was also adopted by his posterity, though they retained the armorial bearings of the Campbells, their paternal ancestors.

Duncan’s brother, Donald, also assumed the surname of Denune, and became abbot of Fearn in Ross-shire. In 1534 he bestowed upon his nephew, Andrew Denune, the son of his brother Duncan, the lands and barony of Cadboll.

A lady of this family, Mariamne Dunune, married Sir John Hope, the seventh baronet of Kinross and Craighall, governor of Bermuda, in the reign of George the Second, and one of the oldest lieutenant-generals in the army at the time of his death in 1766.

In the 17th century, Norman Denune, the representative of the Denunes of Cadboll, married Catherine, third daughter of Sir Hector Munro, first baronet of Foulis, she being then the widow of William Munro of Teanaird. Sir Hector, his father-in-law, died in 1635.

Contemporary with Andrew Denune, the first of Cadboll, was Sir David Denoon, proprietor of the lands of Pittogarty, Pitnellie, Balacouth, &c., in the counties of Ross and Inverness. Charters dated in 1538 and 1540.

In the Old Statistical Account of Scotland a singular and remarkable tradition concerning the ancient castle of Cadboll is stated, that though it was inhabited for ages, yet never any person died in it. Many of those who lived in the castle wished to be brought out of it, as they longed for death, especially Lady Mary, who resided there about the end of the 17th century, in the time of the Denunes. Being long ill, and anxious for death, she desired to be carried out of her castle, which at last was accordingly done, and no sooner was she out than she expired. The only remains of the ancient castle of Cadboll are two or three vaults.