Campbell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Campbell

What does the name Campbell mean?

The name Campbell was first used by a Strathclyde-Briton family from the Scottish/English Borderlands. It was a name for a person with a crooked mouth, or crooked smile. This nickname surname is derived from the Gaelic words cam and beul, meaning crooked and mouth. Nicknames could be derived from various sources. In general, they came from the physical characteristics, behavior, mannerisms and other attributes of the bearer.

Campbell Coat of Arms Creation

According to Scottish lore, the case of the Duke of Argyll, whose crest is a boar's head, goes back to the time of the Fenian heroes. The ancestor of the Argyll clan was then known as Diarmid.

Unhappily Fionn's wife fell in love with Diarmid while he was one night at a feast in her husband's castle. Fionn found this out, and consulted a witch as to what he could do to get rid of Diarmid without offence. She told him that the Fianna had a wonderful boar on whose back was a poisoned bristle, and that if he could get Diarmid to measure it, the bristle would prick him and he would die. A few days after this Fionn, after some talk, wagered that the length of the boar was so many feet. Diarmid disagreed as to the length, set out to measure it, and returned proclaiming that he was right. Fionn was furious and asked him how he had measured it.

He replied, " From snout to tail." " Ah !" said Fionn, " come and let me see you measure it from tail to snout." Diarmid went, and in measuring it in that direction-against the set of the bristles -the poisoned bristle pierced his foot, and soon thereafter he was dead. The boar's head was adopted by Diarmid's descendants as their crest, and has so remained ever since, with the motto, " Ne obliviscaris " (Lest thou forget). The badge is the myrtle. 1

Early Origins of the Campbell family

The surname Campbell was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute. Researchers suggest a joint progenitor of both the Campbells and the MacArthurs. The MacArthurs were the ancient senior sept of the Campbells. Arthur derives from the son of King Aedan MacGabhran, the 9th century Scots King of Argyll. The Clan Campbell was known as the Siol Diarmaid an Tuirc or, alternatively, the Clan Duibhne, and in a Crown charter Duncan MacDuibhne was ancestor of the Lords of Lochow in 1368.

Sir Colin Campbell, son of Sir Archibald, was succeeded by Sir Duncan in 1427. Sir Duncan's second son, Black Colin of Glenorchy founded the Campbells of Breadalbane. He built the castle of Caolchurn and married Margeret Stewart, heiress of the Lords of Lorn. After the Battle of Harlaw in 1411 in which the MacDonalds were badly defeated by the King, the Campbells, took advantage of the situation to acquire more territory from the MacDonalds.

In 1517 the Campbells and the MacLeans of Duart were called upon by the Crown to again suppress the Lord of the Isles, MacDonald of Lochalsh, who had seized two Royal Castles. Lochalsh went to the scaffold and the Campbells acquired more land. Their Chiefs were bestowed with knighthoods, baronies and Earldoms. The Earl of Argyll becoming Chancellor of Scotland to James IV, and through his influence achieved a measure of peace throughout the Highlands.

Early History of the Campbell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Campbell research. Another 244 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1437, 1607, 1609, 1610, 1629, 1630, 1636, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1668, 1685, 1696, 1699, 1701, 1717, 1757, 1764, 1792, 1824, 1878 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Campbell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Campbell Spelling Variations

In the era before dictionaries, there were no rules governing the spelling or translation of names or any other words. Consequently, there are an enormous number of spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names. Campbell has appeared as Campbell, Cambell, Cambel, Camble, Cammell and many more.

Early Notables of the Campbell family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Sir Duncan Campbell, the first Earl in 1437; Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquis of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, (1607-1661); and his son, Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll (16...

Campbell World Ranking

In the United States, the name Campbell is the 46^th most popular surname with an estimated 370,563 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Campbell is ranked the 12^nd most popular surname with an estimated 71,068 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Campbell is the 548^th popular surname. 4 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Campbell as 309^th with 148 people. 5 Australia ranks Campbell as 26^th with 50,389 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Campbell as 38^th with 5,549 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Campbell as 47^th with 84,730 people. 8 South Africa ranks Campbell as 662^nd with 10,267 people. 9

Migration of the Campbell family to Ireland

Some of the Campbell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Campbell migration to the United States +

The freedom, opportunity, and land of the North American colonies beckoned. There, Scots found a place where they were generally free from persecution and where they could go on to become important players in the birth of new nations. Some fought in the American War of Independence, while others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these Scottish settlers have been able to recover their lost national heritage in the last century through highland games and Clan societies in North America. Among them:

Campbell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Colin Campbell, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 10

Campbell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Daniel Campbell, who landed in New England in 1716 10
Eliz Campbell, who landed in New York, NY in 1738 10
Ronald Campbell, who landed in New York in 1738 10
Dugald Campbell, who landed in New York in 1739 10
Anna Campbell, who arrived in New York in 1739 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Campbell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Walter Campbell, who arrived in America in 1803 10
Samuel Campbell, who arrived in America in 1805 10
Sara Campbell, who arrived in America in 1805 10
Arth Campbell, who landed in America in 1805 10
Ann Campbell, who landed in America in 1805 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Campbell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Collin Campbell, who landed in Minnesota in 1901 10
William Louis Campbell, who landed in Colorado in 1907 10
James George Campbell, who arrived in Alabama in 1918 10

Campbell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Campbell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Angus Campbell, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Archibald Campbell, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Robert Campbell, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Thomas Campbell, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Jean Campbell, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Campbell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Colin Campbell, aged 21, Scottish settler who landed in Canada in 1811
Cohn Campbell, aged 21, who arrived in Canada in 1811
Cohn Campbell, aged 21, who landed in Canada in 1811
Daniel Campbell, aged 24, who landed in Canada in 1811
Daniel Campbell, aged 24, who arrived in Canada in 1811
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Campbell migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Campbell Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Mary Campbell, (b. 1765), aged 28, Irish convict who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for 7 years for shop lifting, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11

Campbell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Archibald Campbell, British convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 12
Mr. James Campbell, British Convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. William Campbell, Irish convict who was convicted in Westmeath, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Boyd" on 10th March 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Robert Campbell, Scottish convict who was convicted in Ayr, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. George Campbell, English convict who was convicted in Yorkshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Campbell migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Campbell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Robert Campbell, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
Colin Campbell, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Blenheim
Duncan Campbell, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
James Campbell, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
J L Campbell, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Campbell Settlers in New Zealand in the 20th Century

Marcus Campbell, aged 22, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926

Contemporary Notables of the name Campbell (post 1700) +

Glen Travis Campbell (1936-2017), American two-time Grammy Award winning, Dove Award-winning and Golden Globe nominated country pop singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor, perhaps best known for his songs "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" 17
Robert Campbell (1937-2025), American architect and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer for the Boston Globe
Joan Louise Brown Campbell (1931-2025), American Christian minister and ecumenical leader, standing as an ordained minister in both the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the American Baptist Church
Irma Lucille Campbell (1916-1992), American corporal in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
Addie Lee Campbell, American technician in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
Janet Campbell, American baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
Jean Campbell (1928-2004), American catcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Georgia Campbell (1926-2004), American pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
DeLois Barrett Campbell (1926-2011), American gospel singer for the Barrett Sisters from Chicago
Colin Goetze Campbell (1935-2024), American academic, 13th President of Wesleyan University and the President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
... (Another 84 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Campbell family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. Stuart Donald Campbell (1957-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Whakatane, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 18

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Trevor Campbell (1967-1985), American Private from Brooklyn, New York, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 19

Empress of Ireland

Mr. John Campbell, British Fireman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 20
Mr. Michael Campbell, British Trimmer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 20

Flight TWA 800

Mr. Richard G. Campbell (1933-1996), from Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA, American TWA Engineer flying aboard Flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; he died in the crash 21

Halifax Explosion

Miss Annie Perry Campbell (1908-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Mr. Martin Campbell (1848-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Mrs. Catherine Elizabeth Campbell (1848-1917), Canadian resident from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Miss Mary Christina Campbell (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Mr. D. Campbell (1898-1917), Scottish Seaman aboard the SS Curaca from Barra, Scotland, United Kingdom who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22

HMS Hood

Mr. Albert G Campbell (b. 1917), English Leading Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Robert H Campbell, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 24

HMS Repulse

Mr. Herbert Campbell, British Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 25
Mr. Alexander Mcluckie Campbell, British Canteen Assistant NAAFI, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 25
Mr. Henry James Eccles Campbell, British Commissioned Warrant Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 25

HMS Royal Oak

William M. Campbell, British Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 26
Donald Campbell (d. 1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 26
Charles Newlands Campbell (1920-1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 26

Lady of the Lake

Mr. Aurther Campbell (b. 1814), Irish labourer from Coleraine, Northern Ireland who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and he died in the sinking
Mr. Francis Campbell (b. 1815), Irish labourer from Coleraine, Northern Ireland who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and he died in the sinking

North Sea Flood

John Campbell, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

RMS Lusitania

Miss Christina Campbell, (née Fraser), Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 27
Mr. William Campbell, American 2nd Class passenger from Chicago, Illinois, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 27
Mr. Kennedy Campbell, American 2nd Class passenger from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 27
Miss Ada Mena Campbell, American 2nd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 27
Mrs. Amy Campbell, American 2nd Class passenger from Chicago, Illinois, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 27
... (Another 3 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Titanic

Mr. William Henry Campbell (d. 1912), aged 21, Irish Joiner from Belfast, Ireland who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 28
Mr. Donald S. Campbell (d. 1912), aged 25, English Third Class Clerk from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 28
Mr. William Henry Campbell (d. 1912), aged 21, Irish Second Class passenger from Belfast, Ireland who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 28

SS Caribou

Mr. N. M. Campbell, British passenger who was Royal Army Sergent was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Frank M. Campbell, American Ensign working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 29
Mr. George K. Campbell, American Chief Turret Captain working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 29
Mr. Burdette Charles Campbell, American Seaman First Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 29

USS Indianapolis

Hamer Edward Campbell Jr. (1926-1971), American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he survived the sinking 30
Louis Dean Campbell (1924-1980), American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he survived the sinking 30
Wayland Dee Campbell (1921-1945), American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 30

Vimy Ridge

George Brander Campbell (1888-1917), Canadian trapper, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge August 1917
William Edward Campbell (1895-1917), Canadian farmer, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge August 1917
Harold Bertram Campbell (1896-1917), Canadian clerk, born in Ontario, Lance Corporal in the 54th Battalion from British Columbia who died at Vimy Ridge 1917

The Campbell Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ne obliviscaris
Motto Translation: Forget not.

Sources +

Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
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"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
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Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Glen Campbell. (Retrieved 2011, January 20) Glen Campbell. Retrieved from http://www.glencampbellshow.com
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
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H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
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Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew