Like the other native Galloway clans, such as the McDowalls and McCullochs, the Hannays supported John Balliol, who by his mother the Lady Devorgilla, represented the old Celtic Lords of Galloway against Bruce, but in 1308 were forced to submit to Edward Bruce when he conquered Galloway.

The first recorded Hannay is Gilbert de Swoerby, who witnessed a charter in 1328.  This Gilbert is possibly the Gilbert de Hannethe who signed the Ragmans Roll in 1296 when Edward I of England made the feudal Lords and Chiefs of Scotland swear allegience to him at Berwick.

From Sorbie, Hannays rode to Sauchieburn and Flodden; they feuded against or sided with their neighbours the Kennedys, the Dunbars and the Murrays, and joined James IV on his pilgrimages to St. Ninian's shrine at Whithorn.  In 1601 the Hannays were outlawed for their behaviour towards the Murrays.  The chief families were Sorbie, Knockglass, Capenoch, Kilfillan in Wigtownshire and Kirkdale across the bay in the Stewartry.   Stewart Francis writes in his book The Hannays of Sorbie, "they held considerable sway over the Machars of Galloway, and the Burgh of Wigtown marched to their tune."

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