The Clan History

The origins of Clan Cameron are uncertain. There are several theories of the Camerons' origins. A manuscript of the clan says that it is old tradition that the Camerons were originally descended from the son of the royal family of Denmark who assisted the restoration of King Fergus II of Scotland and that their progenitor was called Cameron from his crooked nose and that his dependants then adopted the name. However the chronicler adds that it is more probable that they are the aborigines of the ancient Scots known as Caledonians. This statement proved that the writer of the history understood neither the meaning of the language he used nor the subject on which he pronounced an opinion. According to John Major the Clan Cameron and the Chattan Confederation shared a common origin and together followed one chief, but this statement has no foundation or evidence to support it. Allen surnamed MacOrchtry the son of Uchtred is mentioned by tradition as the chief of Camerons during the reign of King Robert II of Scotland and according to the same source the Camerons and Chattan Confederation were two rival, hostile tribes, a more likely explanation.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the most important tribes in Lochaber were the Clan Donald, the Chattan Confederation, and the Mael-anfhaidh. Traditionally, the Mael-anfhaidh consisted of three main tribes; the MacMartins of Letterfinlay; the Macgillonies (Mac ghille-anfhaidh); and the MacSorlies of Glennevis (Sliochd Shoirle Ruaidh). The MacMartins are said to have provided the chief of this confederation of tribes. Donald Dubh Cameron, already mentioned, married the daughter of the MacMartin chief and either through this or by his own prowess assumed the leadership or captaincy of the confederation of clans which later formed the Clan Cameron.

Some time towards the end of the 14th century a chief or leader called Donald Dubh, whose surname was Cameron, arose in Lochaber. He must have been a man of importance, ability, and energy, for he had a large following composed of local tribes. Donald Dubh was the first "authentic" chief or captain of this confederation of tribes which gradually became known as the Clan Cameron, taking the name of their captain as the generic name of the whole, until the clan was first officially recognized by that name in a charter of 1472.

Motto: "Aonaibh Ri Cheile" (Unite)
Badge: A sheaf of five arrows.
Septs of the Clan: Chalmers, Kennedy, MacChlerich, MacChlery, MacGillonie, Macildowie, MacKail, Maclerie, MacMartin, MacOnie, MacOurlic, MacPhail, MacSorley, MacUlric, Macvail, MacWalrick, Martin, Paul, Sorley, Taylor.
Names associated with the clan: CAMERONNE CAMBRONE CAMBERNON CAMMERON CAMIRUN CAMBRIN CAMRON CAMRONE CAMROUN CAMROWNE CAMRUN GILRUCHT GILROD GILROTH GILROOTH GILRUTH GILRUFF GELRUTH GILLEROTH GILROUTH GILROOFF GILROWTH GILREITH GILLREITH GYLRUTH GYLLEROCH MACGILLONY MACGILLONIE MACGILLERY MACOCHTERY MACOCHTRY MACOLONY MACONIE MACOLONIE MACOCHTRIE CAMERON MACGILLEMARTIN MACGILLEMERTIN MACGILMARTINE MACILMARTINE MACILMERTIN MACKILLMARTINE MACMERTENE MACMERTEIN MACMERTIN MACSORLIE MAIRTIN MAKMARTIN MACLONVIE MACLOUVIE MACALONEY MACALONIE MACMARTEN MACMARTIN MACMARTYNE MACMARTUN CHAUMER MARTINE MARTYN MARTEIN MARTYNE MARTIN MACSORLE MACSORLLE MACSOIRLE MACSORRLE MACSOUARL MACSORLEY MACSORRILL MACSORLL SOMERLED SOIRLIE SERLE SOMMERLED SORILL SURLY SORLET SUMERLED SURLEY SURLEUS SOMHAIRLE SURLAY SUMERLEDI SORLLE SORLEY SORLL SUMERLEITH SUMERLEHT SUMMERLEITH SUMERLETH SORRIE SOURLE SUMERLETHUS SORLIE SORLEYSON CHALMOUR CHALMER CHALLMERS CHALMBERS CHAMBERS CHALMYR CHALMERS CHAMER CHAMBER CHAMYR CHALMAIR CANEDIE KENNYDE KENNADEE KENIDE KENNEDY KENEIDY KENNYDY KENNEDI KENEDE KENADIE KENNATY KENNATIE KENYDE KANYDI KENEDY KENNETY KENNEDYE KENNIDE KINYDY KENNETIE KANIDE KYNIDY KYNEIDY MACOLRIG MACOULRIC MACOURLIC MACUALRAIG MACUARAIG MACULRIG MACULRIC MACULRICK MACULRICH MACWALRICK HUIE FALL FAIL MACFAELL MACFAULD MACFAL MACFAIL MACFAUL MACFALE MACFALL MACFOILL MACFAYLE MACFYALL MACFAULL MACKPHAILL MACPAUL MACPHIEL MACPAILL MACPHAILL MACPHIAL MACPHALE MACPHAEL MACPHAYLL MACPHAULL MACPHELL MACPHAILE MACPHAUL MACPHAIL MACPHAELL MACVALE MACVAIL MAKPHAILE MAKFAILL MAKFALE MAKFELE NICKPHAILE PAULL POLE PAL PAUL POL PAULE VAIL MACEANTAILYEOUR MACINTYLOR MACINTAILYEOUR MACINTYLLER MACINTAYLEOR MACINTAYLOR MACKINTAYLZEOR MACKYNTALYHUR MACTALZYR MAKINTAILZOUR MAKYNTAILZOUR MAKINTALYOUR TAYLLUR TAYLOWRE TAYLYOUR TAYLOR TELYOUR TAYLER TAYLIOUR TAILLOR TAILLYER TAYLYHOUR TAYLEUR TAILLIOUR TALZIOR TALZEOR TAILLUR TALYHOUR TAILLZIER TALZOUR TAILLEUR TAILER TAILYEOUR TALYEOR TAILZER TAILZIEOR TAILZIEOUR TYLLOUR MAKOOLRIK MACCUARAIG MACCUALRAIG CLAERK LEARY MACALEERIE MACCLERICHE MACCLERIE MACCHLERICH MACCLERICH MACCLURICH MACCLERY MACCLEARY MACCLEAREY MACCLIRIE MACCHLERY MACELEARY MACINCLERYCHT MACINCLERIE MACINCLERICH MACLERIE MACLEARY MACLERICH MACLEAR MACKLEIRY DOWY DOUIE DOWIE GILLEDUFF GILDAWIE GILLEDOW GILDUFF GILLEGOWIE GILDOWIE MACALDOWIE MACALDOWRIE MACALDOWY MACALDUIE MACELDUFF MACGILDUFF MACGILDHUI MACGILLIGOWY MACGILLEGOWIE MACGILLIUE MACGILLIGOWIE MACGILDUI MACGILEVIE MACGILLEDUIBH MACGILLEDUF MACGILLEWIE MACGILLEDOW MACGILLEWY MACGILLEWEY MACGILLEWE MACGILLIDUFFI MACGILLIWIE MACGILLIEWIE MACGILLEWYE MACGILEWE MACGILLADUBH MACGILLDOWIE MACILDOUI MACILDOWIE MACGILVIE MACILDEUS MACILDEW MACILDOWY MACILDEU MACILDAY MACILDUE MACILDUF MACILDUY MACILDUFF MACHILLIEGOWIE MACILEWE MACILGHUIE MACILGUY MACILGUIE MACILLEWIE MACILLEWE MACILLIDUY MACILLHUY MACKILDAIYE MACKELDEY MACKILDAY MACKELDOWIE MACMALDUFF MAKGILLEWE MAKGILLEVYE MAKGILLEWIE MICKELLDUFF CALE MACKALE MACKAILL MACKAIL MACKEIL MACKELL MACGILLOGOWY MAKLEARIE CLEARY CLEARKSON CLARKSON CLARKSONE CLARKE CLARK CLERIE CLERK CLERC CLERKSOUN CLERKSONE CLERIC CLERCSONE CLERKE CLERKSSON CLERKSON CLERCK CLERACH