Origins of the Campbell surname

What does the name Campbell mean?

Campbell is a Scottish surname (where it is still the 7th most prevalent surname), also found in Ireland due to the colonisation of the island by Scots in the 1600s and 1700s. Campbell is derived from the Gaelic 'cam beul' (crooked mouth) and is thought to have come about as a nickname and refer to the descendants of somebody who had this particular feature, potentially an early chief of the Campbell clan. The surname Campbell could also be used by those who had no blood relation but lived on or near the lands of the clan, to show their duty towards their liege lord.

Alternative variations of the name Campbell

Campbell, Camble, Campbill, Cambell, Campbel

Start free trial
I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.
SS
Stuart
Trustpilot logoTrustpilot 5 stars
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Campbells.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Campbell family's history

OrkneyShetlandHighlandsWestern IslesGrampianTaysideCentralStrathclydeFifeLothianBordersDumfriesNorth East 2338North West 878Isle of Man 56Yorkshire 1170East Midlands 245West Midlands 336East 841London 5011South East 1338South West 418South Wales 130Mid Wales 39West Wales 14North Wales 43Republic of IrelandNorthern Ireland

In 1921, most Campbells lived in london

Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Campbell

How common is your surname?

77th most common surname in the UK

We have for the Campbell surname. The oldest one dates back to 1100.

Who were Campbells most likely to marry?

Our tell us which families married Campbells.

What are the most common Campbell first names?

John

James

Mary

Margaret

Our tell us the names of Campbell family members
Man with milk churns and census card collage
Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

Common jobs for Campbells

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Commmon female occupations for Campbells in 1921

Domestic Servant

2,056

Dressmaker

1,992

Housekeeper

1,468

F S

1,457

General Servant

1,076

Commmon male occupations for Campbells in 1921

Coal Miner

2,185

Fisherman

2,146

General Labourer

1,577

Farmer

1,469

Tailor

1,276

We found over 520,000 family trees with the Campbell surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Campbells.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Learn more about the lives of Campbell family members

Share your discoveries

Share to WhatsApp

Share to Facebook

Look for a different surname

Paper tear line

Find out more about your family in our records

    or try an advanced search