This surname is of twofold origin, Lowland and Highland. The name of the Camerons of the Lowlands is of territorial origin, from one of three places so named: (1) Cameron near Edinburgh; (2) Cameron in Lennox; (3) Cameron (of old, Camberone), a parish in Fife, the principal if not the only source of the Lowlana surname. (l) The Highland clan name, like that of Campbell, is derived from a facial deformity, cam-shron, Gaelic for 'wry' or 'hook nose.' The late Rev, Dr. Joass of Golspie stated that a hooked nose was a characteristic of the old Clan Cameron families (Celt. Rev., I, p. 95). The middle Gaelic genitive form is found in Macvurich as Camsroin, while the ms, of 1467 has the form Gillacamsroin, and Camronaich is the adjectival form found in the Book of the Dean of Lismore. The general hereditary patronymic of the chiefs of the Clan is MacDhomhnuill Duibh, from their ancestor Domhnull Dubh or 'Black Donald.' By writers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries "this title is distorted into Macilduy, Macillony, Macgillonay, and a variety of other barbarous corruptions" (Lays of the Deer Forest, II, p. 476). "By pressing into the service people who lived south of the Grampians," says the late Dr. Macbain, "and who probably never even visited far Lochaber, historians have sought to give the Clan Cameron the much desired 'lang pedigree.' The first assured chief is Donald Du, c. 1411, from whom the Clan Chief takes his patronymic Dhomhnuill Duibh." The Clan Cameron consisted of three main branches, (1) Macmartins of Letterfinlay (for an account of them see TGSI., XVII, p. 31—45); (2) Macgillonies of St rone; and (3) Macsorlies of Glen-Nevis. Camern 1718, Camron (of Lochyell) 1628. (II) Of the Lowland Camerons the first in record is Adam de Kamerum who witnessed a charter of 'vnum' rete super matricem aquam de Thei' (Tay) by David de Haya to the monks of Cupar between 1214—49 (SCM,, II, p. 307), Hugh Cambrun, sheriff of Forfare, was one of the perambulators of the marches between the lands of Arnbroath Abbey and Kinblethmont, 1219 (RAA., I, 228), and witnessed a charter by Randulf de Strathphetham c. 1222 (REB., II, 3). Johannes Cambron, a witness in Moray, 1233 (REM., 83), may be Sir John Cambrun who witnessed grant of part of the land of Carrecros c. 1239 (Panmure, I, p. cliv). Another John Cambron, who witnessed a charter by Alan Hostiarius, 1261 (REA., II, 275), is probably John de Cambrun who is mentioned in 1264 as sheriff of Perth (ER., I, p. 3). David de Cambrun is mentioned in the chartulary of Lindores Abbey in 1266 (LAC., 115). David de Cambroun or de Cambernon, one of the Scots prisoners taken in Dunbar Castle, 1296, in the following year undertakes, along with Sir John de Camburnon or Caumbroun, another Scots prisoner of war, to serve in the king of England's army beyond the sea (Bain, II, 742,873, 938,942). John de Cambron swore fealty in 1291 and in 1296 rendered homage along with Sir John de Cambrun de Balligarnach (ibid., II, p. 124,169). Sir John de Cambroun served on an inquest at Perth, 1305 (ibid., II, 1689), and John de Cambroun was sheriff there, 1333 (Milne, p. 26). Sir Robert Cambron was sheriff of Atholl, 1296 (Bain, II, 733). Robert de Caumberen de Ballegligernauch, who is mentioned in 1286 (RAA., I, p. 333) is probably Sir Robert Cambroun of Balnygrenagh of the county of Perth who rendered homage, 1296. His seal bears a shield with three bars within tracery, S' Ro , , , Cambrv' de Balligyrna. lit. (Bain, II, p. 178,199, 548). Robert Cambroun de Balnely, one of the king's tenants in the county of Fife, rendered homage, 1296. His seal is similar to that of Sir Robert Cambroun mentioned above, a shield with three bars, S' Rob'tt Cambrun de Balnel' (Bain, II, p. 202,539). Another Robert Cambron de Balnely of the county of Forfare also rendered homage. His seal bears a heater shield, barry of eight, label of five points, S' Rob' Cambrvn d' Balnegh (Bain, II, p. 209,533). Though classed among Forfarshire barons he is probably of Fife, namely of Balnello, Balulie, or Balmillie (Angus, 1861 ed., p. 292—293). Meg Cambrawno de Monymusk was charged with being a forestaller in Aberdeen, 1402 (CRA., p. 385). Johannes de Cameron, presbyter and canon of St. Andrews, who petitioned for office of prior of Lochleven, 1421 (Wyntoun, Chronicle, I, p. xxxiv), may be John Cameroon who was prepositus of the Collegiate Church of Linclowdane, 1425 (Soltre, p. 295). Another John Cameron appears as burgess of Aberdeen, 1434 (CRA., p. 5). John Camerown leased part of Cowpar Grange c. 1446 and 1453 (Cupar Angus, I, p. 124,129). William Cameroun had a safe conduct to pass through England, 1448 (Bain, IV, 1207). James Cameron was a canon regular of Holyrood, 1454, and in following year Thomas Cameron is recorded as rector of the prebendal church of Gowan (Govan) (REG., p. 405). William Cameron, prior of the Abbey of St. Andrewe, had a safe conduct into England, 1470 (Bain, IV, 1390). Payment was made to Alan Camion, Scottish merchant, 1474 (ibid., 1412), Dane Camrowne witnessed an indenture in Glasgow, 1485 (LCD., p. 198), and John Camron was procurator in Lanark, 1498 (Lanark, p. 10). Robert Camproun held lands in Perth, 1546 (Rollok, 12), and David Camroun, subprior of Blackfriars of Perth, 1543—1549, also appears as Camprone, Camrone, and Campbroun (Milne, 64, 68,73, 79). The name was common in Edinburgh in the seventeenth century (Edinb. Marr.). Robert Calmeroune was merchant in Glasgow, 1605. Cambrin 1365 Cambrone 1351, Cameronne 1650, Cammeron 1532, Camphron 1574, Camrowne 1552, Camrun 1598. compare Cambehnon.

(Celtic) With a Hooked or Wry Nose [Gaelic Camshron (cam-hron) —cam, wry, hooked + sron, nose]

“Crooked Nose” in Gaelic.

(Scottish) The man with a crooked or wry nose; one who came from Cameron (crooked hill), the name of three places in Scotland.

In an ancient manuscript history of this valorous Highland clan, it is said: "The Camerons have a tradition among them, that they are originally descended of a younger son of the royal family of Denmark, who assisted at the restoration of king Fergus II., anno 404. He was called Cameron from his crooked nose, which that word imports. But it is more probable that they are of the ancient Scots or Caledonians that first planted the country." Skene, in his Highlanders of Scotland, (ii. 193,) agrees to the Celtic derivation; but it must be remembered that in the Lowland county of Fife there is a considerable parish so called, which would discountenance this opinion. Robertas de Cambrun, dominus de Balegrenach swore fealty to Edw. I. at Perth in 1296.

Crooked nose-from cam, crooked, and sron, a nose. The clan have a tradition that their ancestor was a younger son of one of the Kings of Denmark, who assisted at the restoration of Fergus II, in 404, and was called Cameron from his crooked nose. Allan surnamed Mac Ochtry, or son of Uchtred, is mentioned by tradition as the chief of the Camerons in the time of Robert II. As far back as can be traced the clan had its seat in Lochabar, and appear to have been first connected with the house of Islay in the time of Robert Bruce, from whom Angus Og received a grant of Lochabar. The clan's more modern possessions of Lochiel and Locharkaig, on the west side of the Lochy, were granted by the Lord of the Isles to the founder of the clan Ranald, from whose descendants they passed to the Camerons. The clan appears to have been originally divided into three Septs: 1. The Camerons or Mac Martins of Letterfinlay; 2. The Camerons or Macguillonies of Strone; and 3. The Camerons or Macsorlies of Glennevis. The Camerons of Strone were the ancestors of those of Lochiel-Donald Dhu, grandson of Allan Mac Ochtry, headed the clan at the battle of Harlaw in 1411. From this Donald Dhu the Camerons received their patronymic of Mac Dhonnill Duibh, or Mac Connel Duy, the son of Black Donald.

(Gaelic.) From Gam, crooked, and sron, nose, crooked or hooked—nose.

Although the majority of those who bear this name are Scoto-Celtic, there was an English family whose name is now written thus. The name was derived from Champrond, near Coutances (De Gerville, Anc. Chat. do la Manche). In 1157 Ansger de Cambrun is mentioned in Essex (Rot. Pip.). Robert Cambron and John de Cambron occur in Scotland before 1200 and in 1234.

(Scotch), Crooked or Hooked nose. Campbell, Wrymouth.

A location name in Fife.