Scottish Family Names C
CAMERON
NAME ON MAP: CAMSHRON (in GAELIC ) OLD COUNTY: Inverness MEANING: in the Highlands ‑ GOIDELIC `wry‑nose, hook‑nose' after some early chieftain. In the Lowlands, the name (not shown on the map) is of territorial origin. Donald Du, GOIDELIC Domhnull Dubh `Black Donald', reckoned the 11th chief, is the first on record in c.1411.
CAMPBELL
NAME ON MAP: CAIMBEUL (in GAELIC ) OLD COUNTY: Argyll MEANING: GOIDELIC `crooked, wry mouth': possibly from Duncan MacDuibhne, an early 13th century chieftain. His son or grandson, known as Cailean Mor `Colin the Great', was knighted in about 1280 and is regarded as the founder of the Argyll clan. Robert the Bruce's sister, Mary, married a Cambell.
CARMICHAEL
NAME ON MAP: CARMICHELL OLD COUNTY: Lanark DATE: 13th century MEANING: a territorial name taken from the barony of Carmichell ‑ "BRYTHONIC caer `fort' of Michael". A Robert de Carmitely is recorded as early as 1220.
CARNEGIE
NAME ON MAP: CARNEGEY OLD COUNTY: Angus DATE: 14th century MEANING: just after the date of this map, John de Balinhard was granted the lands of Carnegey by Robert II (1329‑70) and took the name as his own. The name shown on the map, therefore, shows these lands.
CATHCART
NAME ON MAP: see under place‑names. HISTORY: the first of the the family, known variously as Rainald, Ranulfus de Ketkert and Reginaldus de Cathekert, came to Scotland with the first of the Stewarts probably from Brittany in the late 12th century. Originally the stress was on the second syllable.
CHISHOLM
NAME ON MAP: CHESHOLME OLD COUNTY: Inverness DATE: 1359 MEANING: a territorial name from the barony of Chisholm (MIDDLE ENGLISH `cheese meadow') in the parish of Roberton, Roxburghshire. A John de Chesehelme is recorded in 1254; in the 14th century members of the family moved north and Robert de Chesholme appears as sheriff of Inverness and constable of Urquhart Castle (succeeding his father‑in‑law Sir Robert Lauder) in 1359.
CLAN CHATTAN (pronounced Hattan)
NAME ON MAP: CLAN CHATTAN OLD COUNTY: Inverness/Perth MEANING: although the clan motto "Touch not the Cat Bot (ie. without) a Glove" would imply otherwise, the name comes from Gillechattan Mór `great follower of St Catain', baillie of the lands of Ardchattan Abbey in the 11th century. He was the first leader of what was to become a very powerful confederation of clans including the MacPhersons, Davidsons, Gows, MacGillivrays, MacBains and MacPhails. In 1291 Angus, 6th chief of the Clan Mackintosh, married Eva, heiress to Clan Chattan and became 7th Captain of Clan Chattan. A supporter of Robert the Bruce, in 1319 he, or his successor, received the lands in Badenoch forfeited by the Comyns (although the name Cumming still survives in the area). The Shaws, Farquharsons, Toshachs and MacThomases sprang from Clan Mackintosh. See under the individual clan or sept names for further details.
COLQUHOUN
NAME ON MAP: COLQUHOUN OLD COUNTY: Dunbarton DATE: 1308 MEANING: a territorial name from lands in Dumbartonshire ‑ GOIDELIC còil `nook' or coill `wood' and cumhann `narrow'. The lands were granted to Umfridus de Kilpatrick by 1241. A descendant, Sir Robert, married the `Fair Maid of Luss', heiress to lands slightly to the north, in 1368 and it is with Luss that the family is now associated.
CRAUFORD, CRAWFORD
NAME ON MAP: see under place‑names. HISTORY: although the name Crawford is now normally associated with the Lindsay family, the Earls of Crawford, it was used as a surname in its own right. John de Crauford and Galfridus de Crauford both witnessed 12th century charters and the name appeared as Krauford, Craufurde, Crawford and Crauuford before 1300. See the entry for Lindsay.
CRICHTON
NAME ON MAP: see under place‑names. HISTORY: Turstan de Crectune witnessed a charter at Holyrood in c.1128. William, Rector of Kreitton, gave his lands to Newbattle Abbey in 1338.
CUMMING(S), CUMINE
NAME ON MAP: COMYN OLD COUNTY: Moray, Perth DATE: 14th century MEANING: although some derive the name from the 7th century saint, Abbot Cumin of Iona, the name is probably NORMAN‑FRENCH de Comines, from a companion of William the Conqueror in 1066. His grandson Willelmus Comyn became chancellor to David I and, later, Bishop of Durham in England. In the latter capacity he fell out fatally with his clergy who poisoned his communion wine. Judicious marriages brought the Comyns much power and when Alexander III died in a riding accident in 1285, two of the six Guardians of Scotland were Alexander Comyn and `Black' John Comyn. Following the death in 1190 of the king's heir, the eight year old Margaret, `The Maid of Norway', they were among the claimants to the throne. It was Red Comyn, son of Black John, who was killed by his rival Robert the Bruce when they met to negotiate in a church in Dumfries in 1306. See the historical introduction.
CUNNINGHAM, CUNINGHAM
NAME ON MAP: CUNYNGHAM OLD COUNTY: Ayr DATE: 1317 MEANING: uncertain. It is a territorial name from the district in north Ayrshire which was Cunegan in 1153. A derivation from GOIDELIC cuin‑neag `milk pail' has been suggested but is unconvincing. The name has had OLD ENGLISH hám `homestead, settlement' added to it. According to one tradition the clan descends from Wernibald who was granted land by Hugh de Morville, Constable of Scotland in about 1140; according to another it descends from Freskin (see the entry for Sutherland). Hugh de Cunninghaham was confirmed in his lands after the Battle of Largs in 1263 and the family gained more under Robert the Bruce.