Gaelic Caimbeul, 'wry (or crooked) mouth,' a name probably applied to some early chief of the clan. Compare the name Gilford, i.e. 'fat cheeks,' and especially Cameron, Gaelic Camshron, 'wry nose.' There is also a parallel in the nickname of Earl Einar, Thorfinn's son, a great Norse earl of the Orkneys, who was known as 'wry-mouth,' in ON. Rangmudr (Ork. Saga, c. XIV). Henderson suggests the epithet may have been applied by neighboring clans on account of moral if not physical traits (ZCP., IV, p. 270); and a poem by Iain Lom's son speaks of "luchd nam beul fiar" (Sinclair, Gaelic bards, III). No explanation, however, is given why the second element lacks the normal aspiration. The name may simply mean "with arched lips." In a charter of 1447 in The manuscript history of Craignish, by Alex Campbell (printed in Scottish History Society, Publications, III. Miscellany, IV) the name Campbell seems then to have been recognized as no more than a nickname. In this charter by the first Lord Campbell he is styled 'Duncan le Cambell," where le is the lie so commonly used in Scottish charters to denote that what follows is in the vernacular, and may be translated "as we say," or "so called," or "known as," so this Duncan was Duncan "known as Cambell." The popular but erroneous opinion is that the name is of NF. origin, from de Campobello, 'of the beautiful plain,' but unfortunately for this derivation the earliest forms show no de, and the name is always in early records spelled Cambel or Cambell. If the name were of NF. origin the idiom of that language would require the form de Bello Campo. This form does occur in early English records and is the origin of the present day surnames Beauchamp and Beecham. Clan tradition represents the Campbells as being originally known as Clann Duibhne or O'Duine from a certain Diarmid O'Duine of Lochow, As the O'Duines, and therefore the Campbells also, were traditionally said to be of the Siol Diarmid, the Fingalian hero who slew the wild boar, it is to be noted that the father of Diarmid was named Fergus Cerr-beoil, 'wry-mouth.' This traditional descent is in part corroborated by a charter granted 15 March 1368 by David II confirming to Arnchibald Campbell of Lochow, son of Colin, all donations, venditions, and impignorations of the lands of Craignish, Melford, Straquhir, and others, with all the liberties of the same as freely as Duncan M'Duine, progenitor of the same Arnchibald, did enjoy in the barony of Lochow or any other lands belonging to him (Arngyll charters, p. 477). That O'Duine or Mac Duine was the true Gaelic name of the clan is also shown by Bishop Carswell's dedication of his Gaelic Prayer-Book (1567) to the earl of Arngyll: Do Ghiollacasbuig Vanduibhne larrle Earragaoidheal , where Vanduibhne is Ua Duine. Skene says (CS., III, p. 338) that Duncan M'Duine lived in the reign of Alexander II, but there is no historical proof that he did live then. To this day there is no equivalent in Gaelic for "Clan Campbell," the term being always Chlann O'Duibhne. On the door-lintel of Camassarie Castle near Kilmartin is an inscription in Gaelic which reads: Dia leinn O'Duibhne, "God with O'Duibhne," i.e. Campbells (Macgibbon and Ross, Castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland, IV, II. 321)."The period assigned for their appearance in Arngyll by genealogical manufacturers merely excite a smile." The "astounding antiquity of the race of Campbell is vouched for by the bards and senachies," authorities "which may be of value in the West Highlands, but nowhere else The 'beautiful' Eva, heiress of O'Dwin existed only in the imagination of some Highland senachie" (Maidment, Pasquils, p. 114). A manuscript pedigree of the Campbells of Arngyll in the National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh traces them to King Arthur, and a MS. of 1550 goes one better by tracing them to "Enos mic Set mic Adaim mic De." The earliest individual of the name Campbell in record is Gilespie Cambel, who held from the Crown the lands of Menstrie and Sauchie in 1263 (ER., I, p. 24), and who is also witness to a charter by Alexander III erecting Newburgh in Fife into a burgh in favor of the monks of Lindores (LAC., 8). Nicholas Cambell witnessed a charter by James the Steward, 1294 (RMP., p. 96). Several Campbells rendered homage for their lands, 1296: Duncan Cambel del Illes, Sir Dovenal Cambel of the county of Dunbretan, Dougal Cambel, Arthur Cambel and Duncan Cambel of the county of Perth (Bain, II, p. 200,204, 211). Thomas Cambel was one or the Scottish prisoners taken at the capture of Dunbar in the same year (ibid., 742). About 1390 Duncan Campbell domimis de Gaunan witnessed a charter by Duncan, earl of Levenax (Levenax, p. 77), and in the same document John Cambel appears as tenant of the same earl in the lands of Drumfad and Kyrkmychel. This Duncan Campbell may have been the individual who first put the p. in the name under the influence of the Norman theory, but in 1282 we have Nigellus filius Colini Campbell (Cambus., 70) who eight years later is designed Sir Nicholas de Chambelle (Sc. Peer I, p. 322). Duncan Cambell, son and heir of Colin Cambell, dominus de Ergadie, attested the marches of Kyrknes and Louchor in 1395 (RPSA., p. 5). Sir Duncan Cambell or Cambelle of Lochow, one of the hostages for the ransom of James I in 1423 (Bain, IV, 981,983), created Lord Campbell in 1445, was the first of the family who took the designation of Arngyll in addition to, and sometimes in place of Lochow. He was ancestor of the ducal house of Arngyll. From his younger son, Sir Colin Campbell, first of the House of Glenurchay (c. 1400—78), are descended the earls and marquesses of Breadalbane (creations 1677 and 1831—1885); and from the third son of Arnchibald, second earl of Arngyll, who fell at Flodden in 1513, the earls of Cawdor (created 1827). Campbell has been carelessly used as one of the Anglicized forms of the name Cathmhaoil, and this has led some people to imagine that Cathmhaoil is the old Gaelic form of the name. In the same way Cameron has been used as an Anglicizing of Irish O'Cumarain or O'Cumrain. Cambal 1545, Cambale 1375, Cambele 1432, Cambelle 1424, Camble 1513, Camille 1451, Cammell 1473, Campbele 1481, Campbill 1617, Campble 1672 (and as late as 1785), Kambail and Kambayl 1448, Kambaile 1394. The Clan Campbell was divided into three septs each bearing a separate name: the Clan Dubhgal Craignish, Clan Maclver of Asknish, and Macarthur of Strachur. Probably they were septs that had separated from the main stem at an early period (Lord Arnchibald Campbell, Records of Arngyll, p. 15). Campbell of Barcaldin and Baileveolan, Sliochd Phara bhig. Campbell of Cawdor, Caimbeuiaich bhoga Chaladair. In the northeast for some mysteious reason a pig was sometimes called Sandy Caumal." The name has become Kumpel in Holland.

. If the Campbells are of Celtic origin the name prob. means Wry Mouth [Gaelic cam, crooked, wry + beul, mouth]: cp. Cameron. If they are of French origin the name = Fair Field [Nor. French camp, Latin camp-us, a field + French bel, Latin bell-us, fair]: cp. the French place-name Montbel.

(Celtic) is prob. the same name as the Gaulish Cambaulis (Καμβαύλίς) mentioned by Pausanias.

MacCathmhaoil An indigenous Irish sept in Tyrone; in Donegal it is usually of Scottish galloglass origin (Mac Ailín). Many Campbells are modern Scottish immigrants. MIF 55,247; App. infra

“Wry or Crooked Mouth” in Gaelic.

(Scottish) One with a wry mouth, or, perhaps, arched lips. It has been suggested that the epithet was applied by neighboring clans on account of moral, rather than physical, defects.

The Campbells' claim to a Norman origin is said to be unfounded. It is based upon the presumed existence of a Norman family called De Campo Bello. Skene says that no such name is found, though the Beauchamps did most certainly so latinize themselves. The oldest spelling (that in Bagman Boll, A.D. 1296) is Cambel or Kambel. The two great branches of the family were distinguished as Mac-Arthur and Mac-Cailinmor. Skene, Scott. High. ii. 280. If the De Campo Bello theory were true, the name would be a synonym of Beauchamp and Fairfield. The name is deduced by Gaelic etymologists from cambeul (pronounced cam-pal) which means "crooked mouth." Whether the family be of Norman or of Gaelic origin, the clan bearing their name are the most numerous and powerful in the Highlands, and formerly, under their chiefs, the earls, marquises, and dukes of Argyle, they could muster 5000 fighting men, who were generally arrayed against the Stuart family. It is to their superior influence and power, and the dread of them by other clans, that we probably owe the disparaging proverb, "LIKE A CAMPBELL, EVER FAIR AND FALSE." By the Highlanders the clan Campbell are called "Clan Duine," and their chiefs have always been styled Mac-Calean-Mohr (not Mac-Callum More as Sir Walter Scott has it,) i. e. "the son of Colin the Great," in memory of their distinguished ancestor, Sir Colin Campbell of Lochow, who in the XIII. cent. laid the foundation of the greatness of his family. This name is abundant in the province of Ulster. "It is somewhere recorded, that a Scotch regiment, quartered at Carrickfergus in the XVII. century, contained no less than 110 John Campbells." Ulster Journ, of Arclneology. No. 20.

Crooked mouth-from cam, crooked, and beul, the mouth. The family can be traced to the beginning of the fifth century, and are said to have been possessed of Lochore in Argyleshire in the time of Fergus II. Sir Colin Campbell of Lochore, temp. Robert Bruce, was called Sir Colin More, or great.

(Celtic and Gaelic.) Wry—mouth, the man whose mouth inclined a little on one side; from cam, crooked, distorted, and beul, the mouth. This ancient family may be traced as far back as the beginning of the fifth century, and is said to have been possessed of Lochore, in Argyleshire, as early as the time of Fergus II. Sir Colin Campbell, of Lochore, flourished toward the end of the thirteenth century, and was called Sir Colin More, or Colin the Great. His descendants were called by the Irish Mc Callen, that is, the descendants of Colin.

Campbell: is supposed to be De Campobello, or Beauchamp, but this is very doubtful. The clan rose upon the ruin of the MacDonalds, and its whole policy for ages was to supplant and ruin that race, leading to the massacre of Glencoe, that has left an indelible stain on its badge of the wild-myrtle. The clan first appears on record at the end of the thirteenth century. The name occurs at the same time as a good many other Anglo-Norman importations into Scotland. The Campbells were allied with the Norman Bruce, and there can exist very little doubt that they are of Anglo-Norman descent.

The Campbells are Scotland’s largest clan, though historically speaking they remain under something of a cloud for their notorious part in the Glencoe Massacre of the MacDonalds.

The surname Campbell originated as a nickname. The word Campbell comes from the Scots Gaelic ‘caimbeul’, which means ‘wry (or crooked) mouth’. This is much the same as the origin of the name Cameron, which comes from the Scots Gaelic for ‘wry (or crooked) nose’. These nicknames almost certainly referred to an element of character rather than just appearance.

According to the tradition of the Clan Campbell, the Campbells were originally known as ‘Clann Duibhne’ or ‘O’Duine’ and were descended from one Diarmed O’Duine of Lochow. Diarmed, in his turn, was said to be a direct descendant of the great Diarmed, ‘the Fingalean hero who slew the wild boar’. Curiously, the father of this Diarmed was known as Fergus Cerr-beoil or Fergus the Wry-mouth, and it is just possible that the name Campbell originates from this. There is no Gaelic equivalent for the Clan Campbell, it still being referred to as Clann O’Duibhne, after Diarmed O’Duine.

Apart from these meagre facts, origins of the Clan Campbell are lost in mythology. The name appears in many ancient ballads and manuscripts, all of doubtful veracity. In one of these the Campbells are said to be descended from King Arthur, while another maintains that they are descended from Adam, no less.

The earliest mention of a Campbell comes in the Exchange Rolls for 1263, where one Gillespie Campbell is listed. However, even as late as 1447, we find in the manuscript History of Craignish a man called Duncan le Campbell, where the name is used as a mere nickname. (Here the ‘le’ is not French, but denotes that what follows is vernacular. Loosely translated, the word means ‘known as’.) Despite the vague origins of the name Campbell, there is one popular myth which can be dismissed. Contrary to the legend, the Campbells are not of French origin, and the word Campbell is not derived from the Norman French ‘de campobello’ meaning ‘of the beautiful plain’. If this were the case, the earliest listings of the name Campbell would be preceded by a ‘de’, as in the origins of such Norman French names as Beauchamp (now usually Beecham) meaning ‘beautiful field’. There is no mention of any ‘de Campbell’.

Campbell has few variations. The only notable ones are Camble, Camel, and Cammel. The last two forms are also in some cases descended from nicknames. A ‘Camel’ would be a large strong fellow capable of carrying great weights for a long distance, as we see in Shakespeare, who refers to ‘a Dray-man, a Porter, and a very Camell’. There is also an etymological oddity attached to the name Camel. In the north-east of Scotland a pig was often known as a ‘sandy camel’, and this name passed to Holland, where it became ‘kumpel’.

In the great age of world speed records, the Campbell family was the greatest of them all. Sir Malcolm Campbell (1885— 1949) broke the world land-speed record nine times between 1924 and 1935, and later broke the water-speed record 3 times. His son Donald Campbell (1921—67) also broke both land and sea speed records several times and his tragic death while attempting a new water-speed record ended an era.

Britain’s greatest linguist is George Campbell (b.l913). By the time he retired from the BBC Overseas Service he had mastered no fewer than 39 languages, although he admits that there was never a time when he could speak all 39, as he tended to grow rusty in one or two.

The girl nicknamed ‘Highland Mary’, who inspired many of Robbie Burns’ greatest love lyrics, was almost certainly one Mary Campbell. There are now several statues to ‘Highland Mary’ in the Burns country around Greenock and Dunoon.

‘The Campbells are coming’ goes the famous refrain in the song-and one Campbell at least lived up to his name. One Robert Campbell, a fur trader, travelled over 3,000 miles from the Yukon to Montreal on snow shoes-an unparalleled feat. The Campbells can also sing. The queen of Britain’s jazz singers, Cleo Laine (b.1928), the wife of bandleader Johnnie Dankworth, is in fact a Campbell. Her real name is Clementina Campbell.

The United Kingdom has a Campbelltown, a Campbelton and a Campbeltown. No fewer than 5 American states have towns named Campbell; so do Australia, South Africa and New Guinea.

With about 44,000 namesakes, Campbell is Scotland’s 4th most popular surname; thus about one out of every 120 Scots is named Campbell. With over 16,000 Campbells, this is Ireland’s 31st most popular surname. (The name is not common enough throughout England and Wales to be counted separately.) Campbell is notably popular in and around Glasgow where an estimated one in 101 families bears the name, and in Edinburgh (one in 160). Around the world Campbells are most common in Vancouver (one in 372 families), Wellington (one in 434) and Canberra (one in 442). The United States has more Campbells than the entire population of Coventry-an estimated total of just under 379,000 makes this their 41st most popular surname.