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Clan Cameron (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Cameron

Gaelic Name: Camshron

Clan Crest: A sheaf of five arrows points upwards, Proper, tied with a band, Gules

Clan Motto: Aonaibh Ri Chéile (Let us unite)

Origin of Name: Camshron is a Gaelic name derived from the words cam (wry) and sron (nose).

Clan Badge: Crowberry

Lands: Lochiel

Clan Chief: Donald Cameron of Lochiel

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Clan Cameron History

Clan Cameron is said to be one of the oldest Scottish clans, described as "fiercer than fierceness itself." According to one theory, they are descended from a son of Danish King Camchron.

There were numerous names circulating in the 13th century that appear to be the forerunners of the name Cameron, all of which evolved from the Gaelic terms for a crooked hill and a crooked nose. The more likely theory is that their first known chief, Donald Dubh, who may have been the 11th by 1411, was descended from either the MacGillonies or the Cambrun family of Ballegarno in mediaeval Fife.

He married an heiress of the MacMartins of Letterfinlay, and his respected leadership and strength enabled him to unite the confederation of tribes that would become known as the Clan Cameron by the end of the century, and Lochaber their territory.

In 1528, King James V granted a charter establishing the 'Captain of Clan Cameron's' lands as the barony of Lochiel. We had a Captain of Cameron of Lochiel from this point forward.

Sir Ewen, 17th of Lochiel built Achnacarry Castle as the Camerons of Lochiel's home. Sir Ewen was a constant thorn in Cromwell's side, constantly waging war against his troops. Finally, the Camerons were allowed to keep their arms on Sir Ewen's promise to live peacefully.

R.R. McIan's 19th-century depiction of a Cameron clansman

Donald, 19th of Lochiel, is remembered as "The Gentle Lochiel" and displayed such bravery during "the '45" that he is regarded as the noblest of the Highland Chiefs. He is said to have saved Glasgow from the occupying Jacobite army in 1745. His descendants, on the other hand, lacked his honor and treated their clansmen inhumanely during the Highland clearances.

Clan Cameron Places & People

Cameron Clan Members

Corriechoille's John Cameron (1780-1856)

Beginning barefoot as a drover's lad at Spean Bridge, 'Corry' would amass the largest flock, herds, and holdings in Britain by the 1840s. Using his childhood wage, he invested in bulls when he could and was eventually able to rent the land at Corriechoille from Cameron of Lochiel. He continued to grow his holdings until he had grazing land from Falkirk to Skye.

He was known for his incredible energy and sharp business sense, which were hidden behind his scruffy appearance. However, his fortune dwindled over time, and he was still working at the age of 75 when he died.

Donald Cameron, Younger of Lochiel (c.1695 – 23 October 1748) was a Scottish politician.

Donald Cameron (pictured above) saw even fewer chances of success for the 1745 rising when Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived in Scotland with only seven men and no weapons or money, having been a man who invested for the long term, improving his estate and investing in his clansmen. After meeting with the Prince, he declared, "I shall share the fate of my Prince, as shall any man to whom nature or fortune has given me power."

After fighting bravely in Edinburgh and preventing the Highlanders from sacking Glasgow, he was wounded at Culloden and fled the country, dying in French Flanders.

Sir David Young Cameron (1865-1945) was a British politician.

DY Cameron was born in Glasgow and studied at Edinburgh's Royal Institution before becoming one of Scotland's greatest artists. His famous landscape paintings depicted locations ranging from Paisley to the central Highlands, Holland, and Paris. His etchings set new auction records.

Around 1917, he worked as a war artist for the Canadian government. From this point on, he focused on the empty expanses of Scotland's Highlands in paintings that would earn him more respect than his etchings.

Clan Cameron Tartans

Cameron tartan from the Sobieskis Vestiarium Scoticum. To make it more authentic, they described it as 'fovr stryppis of grein upon ane scarlatt field, and throuchovt ye red sett ain strypp' in their own version of medieval English.

The term 'ancient' refers to lighter dye shades, whereas'modern' refers to darker colors.

Threadcout Y/4 R32 G12 R4 G12 R/4

Cameron the Elder

Cameron Contemporary

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The Cameron of Erracht tartan was created in 1793 by Donald Cameron's wife for the 79th regiment raised by her son, General Sir Allan Cameron. She didn't want their regiment to be dressed in the Black Watch tartan. Her tartan is said to be a cross between the Cameron and the MacDonell of Keppoch (her family).

The term 'ancient' refers to lighter dye shades, whereas'modern' refers to darker colors.

The term 'weathered' refers to the dye shades, which were introduced in the 1950s to replicate a fragment of tartan discovered buried allegedly on a historic battlefield.

Threadcount G/16 R4 G4 R8 G32 K32 R4 B32 R8 B16 Y/8

Cameron of Erracht the Elder

Erracht Modern Cameron

Weathered Cameron of Erracht

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Cameron of Lochiel tartan is the most ancient of the Cameron tartans. The tartan was inspired by a 1764 portrait of Gentle Lochiel, Donald Cameron of Lochiel (c.1700 - 1748). The sett in the painting has been discovered to be slightly different; however, we do not know if the painter made a mistake or if the one he painted is correct. Wilsons discovered the pattern we know today in the early 1800s.

The term'modern' refers to dye shades, which are typically darker, whereas 'ancient' colors are lighter.

Cameron of Lochiel the Elder

Cameron of Lochiel Modern

Clan Cameron Crest & Coats of Arms

Cameron Clan Crest

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

Proper, a sheaf of five arrows points upwards, tied with a band Gules

Coat of Arms of Clan Cameron

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.