Origins Like with many clans, the origins of Clan Cameron's chiefly family are uncertain and there are several theories, as well as fanciful origin legends: such as a descent from
Banquo, Thane of Lochaber. The first chief may have been called
Cameron from his crooked nose (, cf.
Camshron); such nicknames were common in Highland Gaelic culture, and his descendants would have then adopted the name. It has also been suggested that
Donald Dubh Cameron (), the first authentic chief, was descended from the medieval family of Cameron/Cambrun of Ballegarno (whose name derived from
Cameron, Fife;
cam-brun "crooked hill"), who in turn descended from the ancient Scoto-
Pictish Mormaers of Fife.
Moncreiffe of that Ilk corroborated this theory. The aforementioned Donald Dubh likely did so through the marriage of a local
heiress of the
Mael-anfhaidh kindred (
Clan Mael-anfaidh, which Moncreiffe translates as "children of He who was Dedicated to the Storm"). The MacMartins and MacMillians are also sometimes described as being related to the Old
Clan Chattan Since the 15th century though, Clan Cameron chiefs have been more commonly styled
Mac Dhomnuill Dubh, in reference to the first Cameron chief whom succession can be traced. This feud would continue sporadically for about 300 years. This was followed by the
Battle of Invernahoven in 1370, also against the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan. The
Battle of the North Inch was fought in 1396 as a
trial by combat, between thirty selected warriors on each side from the Clan Cameron and Chattan Confederation of Clan Mackintosh.
15th century and clan conflicts ,
romanticised depiction of a member of the clan by
R. R. McIan, from
The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, published in 1845. In 1411, the Clan Cameron fought at the
Battle of Harlaw near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire in support of
Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles, chief of
Clan Donald who claimed the title of
Earl of Ross. Their enemy was
Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. The Camerons also fought at the
Battle of Lochaber in 1429, between forces led by
Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross, 3rd
Lord of the Isles and the royalist army of King
James I of Scotland. Shortly after this the Camerons again fought against the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan at the
Battle of Palm Sunday in 1429, at the instigation of the Lord of the Isles. In 1431, the Clan Cameron fought at the
Battle of Inverlochy (1431) against the
Clan Donald whose chief
Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross had been imprisoned by the king. The MacDonalds were then led by Alexander's nephew,
Donald Balloch MacDonald who defeated the royalist army led by the
Earl of Mar. In 1439 the Clan Cameron fought against the
Clan Maclean at the
Battle of Corpach. In 1441, another battle with the Mackintoshes, the
Battle of Craig Cailloc, was fought.
16th century and clan conflicts In 1505, during
Dubh's Rebellion, the
Battle of Achnashellach is said to have taken place between the Camerons against the
Clan Munro and the
Clan Mackay. During the
Anglo-Scottish Wars the Clan Cameron chief, Ewen Cameron and a portion of his men survived fighting against the English army at the
Battle of Flodden in 1513. In 1544, a feud took place over the disputed chiefship of the
Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald and this resulted in the
Battle of the Shirts where the Camerons provided archers in support of the MacDonalds against the
Clan Fraser of Lovat who were defeated. Legend has it that only five Frasers and eight MacDonalds survived. The Camerons subsequently carried out successful raids upon the
Clan Grant and Clan Fraser lands, which were incredibly rich and fertile to the Lochaber men. Owing to his role in this conflict Ewen Cameron fell into disfavour with the
Earl of Huntly, Chief of
Clan Gordon and Lieutenant of the North. Chief Ewen Cameron would be executed as a result of this battle and other actions at Elgin in 1547. The
Battle of Bun Garbhain was fought in 1570 when Donald Dubh Cameron, XV Chief of Clan Cameron, had died, leaving an infant son, Allan, at the head of the clan. During the battle the Chief of MacKintosh is believed to have been killed by
Donald 'Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe' Cameron, (son of the XIV Chief of Clan Cameron), with a fearsome
Lochaber axe. In 1594
Allan Cameron, XVI Chief of Clan Cameron led the clan at the
Battle of Glenlivet in support of
George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly, Chief of
Clan Gordon who defeated the forces of
Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll, Chief of
Clan Campbell.
17th century and Civil War During the Civil War at the
Battle of Inverlochy 1645, Clan Cameron fought on the side of the Royalist Scots and Irish who defeated the Scottish
Covenanters of Clan Campbell. In 1668,
Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, XVII Chief was responsible for keeping the peace between his men and Clan Mackintosh. However, when he was away in London a feud broke out between Clan MacDonald and the Mackintoshes. As Sir Ewen was away he was not able to hold back his clan, and they made contribution to the MacDonald victory over the Mackintoshes and Mackenzies at the
Battle of Mulroy, east of
Spean Bridge. The Clan Cameron fought as Jacobites at the
Battle of Killiecrankie in July, 1689, the
Battle of Dunkeld in August, 1689, and the
Battle of Cromdale in May, 1690.
18th century and Jacobite risings During the
Jacobite rising of 1715 the Clan Cameron supported the Jacobite cause fighting at the
Battle of Sheriffmuir. They later fought at the
Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719, after which the 18th Chief
John Cameron of Lochiel, after hiding for a time in the
Scottish Highlands, made his way back to exile in France. When
Charles Edward Stuart landed in
Scotland in August 1745 he was met by the Lochiel, 19th Clan Chief, who pledged his
Clan's full support. Another Cameron clansman and
French Royal Army noncommissioned officer named
John Du Cameron, who was known as
an Sergeant Mòr, fought as a Jacobite, but remained on the run and continued fighting after Culloden and even after the Act of Indemnity. While being hunted down as an outlaw, Sgt. du Cameron engaged in both
cattle raiding and selling
protection against theft. He was eventually captured in 1753 and executed, but remains a popular local
folk hero.
Dr Archibald Cameron of Lochiel who was the chief's brother and a leading Jacobite was also captured and executed in 1753. The
79th (The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders) Regiment of Foot was raised from among the members of the clan in 1793 by
Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht (1753–1828). The
land was managed by a
trust until 1819, when Donald Cameron succeeded to his inheritance. The first
clearance took place in 1801 at
Clunes. Major emigrations, notably to Canada, began in 1802. The clearances continued under the name of Donald Cameron 22nd of Lochiel when he took over from the
Trust in 1819. The Clan Cameron Museum at
Achnacarry has a display of Cameron history including an account of the Cameron clearances. The library also has copies of the books referenced in this section. Some traditional Cameron land, on the eastern side of
Loch Lochy, was not returned in 1784. In 1770 control had passed to the
Duke of Gordon who proceeded to raise rents and clear the land with the aid of his
Factor,
the Revd John Anderson. The Duke's clearances from the Lochaber Estate through his reverend factotum went on until 1806. Many Camerons around the world trace their origins to people removed from their lands during the Highland Clearances.
Napoleonic Wars During the
Revolutionary War and
Napoleonic Wars,
John Cameron of Fassiefern fought with distinction in widespread theatres from 1793 onwards, before being killed at the head of the 92nd Regiment at
Quatre Bras, two days before Waterloo.
Donald Cameron of Lochiel, XXIII Chief fought with distinction at the
Battle of Waterloo with the
Grenadier Guards. He retired in 1832. Later that same year he married Lady Vere Hobart, daughter of Hon. George Vere Hobart and sister of the 6th
Earl of Buckinghamshire. Vere Hobart was descended from the Camerons of Glendessary through her mother Janet Maclean (Hobart's second wife), daughter of Alexander Maclean of Coll and Catherine Cameron, daughter of Allan Cameron, 5th of Glendessary (sister of famed
Jean Cameron of Glendessary).
World War I During World War I Sir
Donald Walter Cameron of Lochiel, KT XXV Chief raised four additional battalions of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. In 1934, he was appointed a
Knight of the Thistle.
World War II Notably, the
Cameron Highlanders were the last battalions that wore the
kilt in battle, due to the purposeful delaying of orders by
commanding officers in the battalions (no one wanted to give up the kilt) and a surprise attack by the Germans (successfully repelled). For this they earned the nickname of 'Ladies from Hell'. Sir
Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, KT XXVI Chief served with Cameron Highlanders, later becoming Honorary Colonel, and was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in 1973. ==Chiefs==