Clan Campbell
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Septs of Clan Campbell            Other distinctions   
Famous People from the Campbell Clan
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History - Origins of the Clan
The Chief's Coat of Arms

The origins of the Campbells are uncertain, it is claimed that the name is derived from the French de Campo Bello, there are a number of competing theories including the theory that the name is from the Gaelic cam beul meaning "curved mouth". The dispute over the name is part of a wider disagreement on origins of the clan between those who point to a Britannic Celtic origin and those who claim Irish descent. The relatively new field of genetic genealogy seems to suggest however that the Campbells are neither - and indeed seem to share a common Scottish ancestor with many of their ancient Argyll foes.

The name begins to be established in Argyll at the end of the 13th century, as followers of the Earl of Lennox, with Campbells owning lands in Kintyre and the famous warrior Cailean Mór (Great Colin) knighted (1380) and established at Loch Awe. Cailean Mór's older brother established at Strachur forming the oldest branch of Clan Campbell, see Campbell of Strachur. The family of Colin went on to become firm supporters of Robert the Bruce and benefited from his successes with grants of lands, titles and good marriages.

The first Lord Campbell was created in 1445. It was from the 15th century that the Campbells came to take an increasingly prominent role, Colin Campbell was en-nobled as the Earl of Argyll in 1457 and later became Baron of Lorn and was also granted lands in Knapdale, signs that the Argylls were one of the major forces in Scotland. Over the centuries, various Campbell Clan Chiefs, including Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, and John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, have played key roles in Scottish and, indeed, British history.

Wars of Scottish Independence

During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan Campbell fought alongside King Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. Robert the Bruce would later grant the Campbells who had supported him the lands of many who had opposed him and whom they helped him defeat.

Clan Conflicts

• Battle of Red Ford, Lorn 1296; Battle between Clan Campbell & Clan MacDougall. This battle took place due to the feud over coastal lands between the two clans. In the late 13th century the rising force on Scotland's Western Seaboard was the MacDougalls. Controlling the Western mainland was MacDougall's castles, Dunollie and Dunstaffnage, near Oban in Argyllshire while their huge fleet of galleys commanded the seas. Many lives were lost on both sides at the Battle of Red Ford which takes its name from the Ford which ran red with blood where the battle took place. Also on the day one of Campbell's castles on loch Awe was seized by the MacDougalls. The Campbell Chief Cailean Mor Campbell was killed at the battle. His body was carried to the church of St. Peter the Deacon at Kilchrenan on Loch Awe side and buried there. Although the exact burial place is unknown, in 1816 the Duke of Argyll inserted in the gable of the present church, a 14th century gravestone in memory of his ancestor.

• Battle of Flodden Field 1513, Clan Campbell fought on the side of the Scottish King James IV against an English Army. Many of the powerful Earls of Scotland participated in this battle which is sometimes referred to as the Charge of the Earls which included Campbell's Earl of Argyll

• Clan Campbell was among the Scottish forces who fought the English at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh on 10th September 1547. Due to the large number of Scottish lives lost at this battle the 10th of September is remembered today in Scotland as Black Saturday.

• In 1568 Chief of Clan Campbell Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll led and commanded the forces who fought for Mary, Queen of Scots at the Battle of Langside against the forces of the Regent Moray who were commanded by William Kirkcaldy of Grange.

• In 1567 a conflict took place between the Clan Campbell and Clan MacArthur. Duncan MacArthur and his son of the Loch Awe MacArthur family, became the victims of their own success when jealousy of their power drove neighbours to drown them in Loch Awe during a skirmish with the Clan Campbell. In the archives of Inveraray Castle a charter dated 1567 confirms that a pardon was granted to the Campbells of Inverawe for the "drowning of Clan Arthur". It is believed that the MacArthurs trying to defend themselves were driven into the loch. Centuries later in the 1970's an ancient sword was unearthed on the shore of the loch.

• Clan Campbell fought at the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594. Where the Earl of Argyll's forces were defeated by the forces of the Earl of Huntly. Argyll's forces consisted of Clan Campbell, Atholl, the Chattan Confederation of Clan MacKintosh and Clan Forbes and others. Huntly's forces consisted of Clan Gordon, Comyn/Cumming, Clan Cameron and others.

17th Century & Civil War

• The Clan Irvine were staunch royalist supporters. However they were surrounded by covenanter clans. The Clan Irvine's Drum Castle was sacked on May 2nd 1644 by the Clan Campbell. A chair with Drum symbols is now in the Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, believed to have been taken from Drum either in 1644 by the Campbells or in 1640 when a previous raid took place by the Clan Munro.

• Battle of Inverlochy (1645), This battle was between the Scottish Argyll Covenanter forces of Clan Campbell led by Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll and the Royalist forces of James Graham the Marquess of Montrose mainly made up from Clan MacDonald, Clan MacLean and other MacDonalds and men from Ireland. Through cunning tactics the Royalist force of 1500 MacDonalds & MacLeans defeated the Argyll Campbell force of 3000.[5]

• 1645, The Clan Campbell, neighbours of the Clan Lamont had steadily encroached the Lamont's lands. After the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645 the Clan Lamont took the opportunity to lay waste to the Campbell's territory.

• 1646, Dunoon Massacre, However the following year in 1646 the powerful Clan Campbell army invaded the Clan Lamont taking their Castles Toward and Ascog. Sir James Lamont surrendered after accepting fair terms for his people. However the Campbells then slaughtered over two hundred of Lamont's men, women and children. Elsewhere one tree was said to have carried thirty five bodies from its branches and another thirty six men were buried alive. The two Lamont castles were decimated and Sir James Lamont was thrown into a dungeon for five years. This became known as the Dunoon Massacre.

• 1647; Siege of Duart Castle; In 1647 Duart Castle was attacked and laid siege to by the Argyll government troops of Clan Campbell led by Stuart A Campbell, but they were defeated and driven off by the Royalist troops of Clan MacLean.

• Battle of Stirling (1648), Campbells were among the forces of the Marquis of Argyll who was defeated at the Battle of Stirling in 1648 by the forces of Sir George Munro who were in support of the Earl of Lanerick. Argyll lost 200 dead and another 400 wounded or captured. Among Argyll's dead was William Campbell of Glenfalloch and Sir Colin Campbell of Ardkinglas killed in action.

• Battle of Altimarlech 1678; A battle took place between Clan Campbell and Clan Sinclair. Legend has it that so many Sinclairs were killed that the Campbells were able to cross the river without getting their feet wet. Clearly, however, the Sinclairs had influence in high places as only a few years later, in 1681, they regained the earldom by an order of Parliament.

• 1678; Archibald Campbell the 9th Earl, son of the Marquess of Argyll, invades the Clan MacLean lands on the Isle of Mull and garrisons Duart Castle.

• In 1692, 78 unarmed MacDonalds were murdered in the Massacre of Glencoe when a government initiative to suppress Jacobitism was entangled in the long running feud between Clan MacDonald and Clan Campbell. The slaughter of the MacDonalds at the hands of the soldiers, led by Captain Robert Campbell, after enjoying their hospitality for over a week was a major affront of Scottish Law and Highland tradition.

18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings

• Battle of Sheriffmuir 1715; During the initial early Jacobite Uprisings the British government forces of Clan Campbell fought against the Jacobites of Clan MacDonald who were under MacDonald of Keppoch. However there were in fact some Campbells who took the side of the Jacobites led by the son of Campbell of Glenlyon whose father had commanded the government troops at the Massacre of Glencoe 22 years earlier. The two young men "buried the hatchet" and swore to be brothers in arms, fighting side by side in the Battle of Sheriffmuir. The British government forces of Clan Campbell defeated the Jacobites.

• During the Jacobite Uprisings of 1745 to 1746 the Clan Campbell supported the British Government and fought against the rebel Jacobites at the Battle of Falkirk (1746) and the Battle of Culloden 1746 where they were victorious.

Campbell's Castles - Castle Campbell

• Castle Campbell or Castle Gloom The castle was originally a property of the Stewarts, but passed by marriage to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll, and Chancellor of Scotland. He had the name of the castle changed by an act of Parliament to Castle Campbell in 1489. The Marquis of Montrose tried to take the castle in 1645, but failed. The Hall Range was constructed c.1500 and would have originally provided additional lodging and public reception. The tower house was built in the late fifteenth century and was called Castle Gloom until 1489 when it was renamed Castle Campbell. Campbells' luck ran out when they were faced with the choice of King or Cromwell. Initially choosing the King, later the Marquis (8th Earl) of Argyll switched his allegiance to Cromwell. Cromwell's forces occupied the castle in 1653, and only part of the castle was restored after it was burned in 1654 by Scots in retaliation for Campbells support to Cromwell and its use as a residence ended. Just seven years later the 8th Earl of Argyll was executed for treason to the King. In 1948 Castle Campbell was given into the care of Historic Scotland and remains owned by the Government.

• Inveraray Castle, Argyll became the centre of the Clan and the castle of the Chief was established at Inveraray Castle. Other Campbell lands were scattered across Angus, Ayrshire (Loudoun), Clackmannan (Argyll)Nairnshire (Cawdor) Perthshire, Seahouses (Northumberland).

• Kilchurn Castle, The Campbells also owned Kilchurn Castle.

• Saddell Castle, The Campbells owned Saddell Castle from the late 17th century onwards.

Clan Profile

• Origin of the name: Caim Beul (Gaelic for "Crooked mouth") (Surname)

• Other Gaelic names: Caimbeulach (Singular) &O Duibne (Collective)

• Motto: Ne Obliviscaris (Latin for Do Not Forget)

• Slogan: "Cruachan!" (from the mountain north of Loch Awe, overlooking the bulk of the Campbell lands in Argyll)

• Pipe music: "Baile Inneraora" (The Campbells Are Coming)

• Plant badge: Bog Myrtle

Tartans
Black Watch tartan used by Clan Campbell and the Royal Highland Regiment

Campbell tartan, also known as Black Watch, available in light shades as "ancient" and dark shades as "modern." Each branch, Campbell of Breadalbane, Campbell of Loudoun, and Campbell of Cawdor, also have their own tartans which differ slightly.

Chief

• The current clan chief is Torquhil Ian Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll.

• The chief's Gaelic title is 'MacCailein Mor' meaning the son of Colin Mor Campbell ('Colin the Great').

Branches

• Campbell of Argyll

• Campbell of Breadalbane

• Campbell of Craignish (unofficial branch)

• Campbell of Loudoun

• Campbell of Cawdor

• Campbell of Strachur (unofficial branch)

Septs of Clan Campbell

• Arthur

• Bannatyne

• Barnes

• Burnes

• Burness

• Burnett

• Burns

• Caddell

• Cadell

• Calder

• Cattell

• Connochie

• Conochie

• Denoon

• Denune

• Fisher

• Gibbon

• Gibson

• Harres

• Harris

• Hastings

• Hawes

• Haws

• Hawson

• Isaac

• Isaacs

• Iverson

• Kellar

• Keller

• Kissack

• Kissock

• Lorne

• Louden

• Loudon

• Loudoun

• Lowden

• Lowdon

• MacArtair

• MacAurthur

• MacCarter

• MacColm

• MacColmbe

• MacConachie

• MacConchie

• MacConnechy

• MacConochie

• MacDermid

• MacDermott

• MacDiarmid

• MacEller

• MacElvie

• MacEver

• MagGibbon

• MacGlasrich

• MacGubbin

• MacGure

• MacIsaac

• MacIver

• MacIvor

• MacKellar

• MacKelvie

• MacKerlie

• MacKessack

• MacKessock

• MacKissock

• MacLaws

• MacLehose

• MacNichol

• MacNochaird

• MacOnachie

• MacOran

• MacOwen

• MacPhedran

• MacPhun

• MacTause

• MacTavish

• MacThomas

• MacUre

• Moore

• Muir

• Ochiltree

• Orr

• Pinkerton

• Taweson

• Tawesson

• Thomas

• Thomason

• Thompson

• Thomson

• Torrie

• Torry

• Ure

Other distinctions:
Photo is a Westie wearing the Clan Campbell tartan of the Duke of Argyll (with a Kilted companion)

Some sources credit a 19th-century Duke of Argyll (Chieftain of Clan Campbell) as an originator of the West Highland White Terrier breed.
External links

• Clan Campbell Society (North america)

• http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/atoc/campbel-a.html

• http://www.ccsna.org/septs.htm#A4

• http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Clans/Campbell.html

• http://chipdoc.tripod.com/Clan_Campbell.html

• Campbell Clan @ MacBraveHeart