UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic words "cam" meaning "crooked" and "beul" meaning "mouth" or "entrance".
In the 1881 census there were 137 people recorded with the Campbel surname, ranking it #16,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #16,358 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kilbirnie, Govan Combination and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Campbel is 457 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.9%.
1881 census count
137
Ranked #16,358
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1851
457 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Campbel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Campbel surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 457 | #5,414 |
| 1861 | historical | 352 | #7,258 |
| 1881 | historical | 137 | #16,358 |
| 1891 | historical | 166 | #17,077 |
| 1901 | historical | 96 | #23,342 |
| 1911 | historical | 30 | #30,073 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 29 | #34,948 |
| 1999 | modern | 31 | #34,821 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 24 | #36,148 |
| 2009 | modern | 29 | #35,922 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 25 | #36,227 |
| 2013 | modern | 26 | #36,217 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 31 | #35,939 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kilbirnie, Govan Combination, Glasgow, Liverpool and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilbirnie | Ayr |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Paisley Abbey | Renfrew |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Campbel surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Campbel, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Campbel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Campbel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Campbel is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Campbel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Campbel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Campbell has its origins in the Highlands of Scotland, tracing back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "cam" meaning "crooked" and "beul" meaning "mouth," referring to a geographical feature such as a winding stream or river.
The Campbells were a powerful clan based in Argyll, and their ancestral lands encompassed parts of western Scotland. The name first appeared in written records in the early 13th century, with mentions of Sir Gillespie Cambel, a knight who fought alongside King Alexander II in the Battle of Largs in 1263.
In the 14th century, the Campbells gained prominence under Sir Colin Campbell, who was instrumental in the Scottish Wars of Independence against the English. He was rewarded with lands and titles by King Robert the Bruce, solidifying the clan's position as one of the most influential in Scotland.
The Campbells played a significant role in various conflicts and power struggles throughout Scottish history. One notable figure was Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, who was born in 1629 and executed in 1685 for his involvement in the Monmouth Rebellion against King James VII.
Another prominent Campbell was John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll, born in 1693 and known as the "Red Duke." He was a skilled military commander and served as the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army during the War of the Austrian Succession.
In the literary world, Thomas Campbell, born in 1777, was a celebrated Scottish poet and scholar. He is best known for his works such as "The Pleasures of Hope" and "Gertrude of Wyoming."
The Campbells also left their mark in North America, with many members of the clan emigrating to the British colonies. One notable figure was Archibald Campbell, who was born in Scotland in 1739 and became a respected military leader during the American Revolutionary War, serving under General Henry Clinton.
Throughout its history, the Campbell surname has been associated with various place names, including Campbeltown, a town in Argyll and Bute, and Campbell Island, an uninhabited sub-Antarctic island located between New Zealand and Antarctica.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Campbel surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Renfrewshire leads with 21 Campbels recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Renfrewshire | 21 | 20.13x |
| Ayrshire | 20 | 19.85x |
| Lanarkshire | 15 | 3.45x |
| Perthshire | 14 | 23.17x |
| Durham | 11 | 2.75x |
| Kent | 8 | 1.74x |
| Aberdeenshire | 7 | 5.61x |
| Fife | 7 | 8.78x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.45x |
| Midlothian | 5 | 2.77x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.37x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 1.45x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.75x |
| Inverness-shire | 2 | 4.98x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 2.06x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 1.00x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 2.67x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 2.51x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.06x |
| Morayshire | 1 | 4.78x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 6.23x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.15x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.57x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Galston in Ayrshire leads with 20 Campbels recorded in 1881 and an index of 724.64x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Galston | 20 | 724.64x |
| Eastwood | 11 | 171.34x |
| Ryton Woodside | 10 | 2000.00x |
| Govan | 8 | 7.43x |
| Muthill | 8 | 1012.66x |
| Greenwich | 7 | 32.66x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 6 | 23.05x |
| Dysart | 6 | 111.73x |
| Abbey | 5 | 31.41x |
| Carstairs | 5 | 555.56x |
| Inveresk | 5 | 102.46x |
| Rattray | 5 | 354.61x |
| Farnborough | 4 | 137.93x |
| Isleworth | 3 | 50.17x |
| Ovenden | 2 | 33.67x |
| Paisley Low Church | 2 | 60.61x |
| Undy | 2 | 1000.00x |
| West Ham | 2 | 3.41x |
| York St John Delpike | 2 | 1428.57x |
| Bothwell | 1 | 8.47x |
| Duthil | 1 | 129.87x |
| Edinkillie | 1 | 181.82x |
| Frindsbury | 1 | 57.80x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 1.29x |
| Harrow | 1 | 48.54x |
| Harrow On The Hill | 1 | 37.17x |
| Hendon | 1 | 20.66x |
| Huntly | 1 | 49.26x |
| Inverkip | 1 | 40.65x |
| Inverness | 1 | 9.89x |
| Kenmore | 1 | 138.89x |
| Knapdale South | 1 | 77.52x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 0.85x |
| Leuchars | 1 | 99.01x |
| Middle Greenock | 1 | 35.09x |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 5.76x |
| North Shields | 1 | 25.00x |
| Paisley High Church | 1 | 12.03x |
| St Peter Port | 1 | 13.55x |
| Stourbridge | 1 | 22.12x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 1.85x |
| Tynemouth | 1 | 9.32x |
| Whickham | 1 | 27.10x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Campbel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Campbel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Campbel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Hawker | 3 |
| Forman Boiler Maker | 2 |
| Weaver (W) | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Commercial Traveler | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Draper Tailor Bootmaker Hosier Hatter & C (Fancy) | 1 |
| Excavator | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Lieutenant 42nd Regt (Active List) | 1 |
| Managers ... | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| O Seaman (Seaman) | 1 |
| Pensioner | 1 |
| Tobacco Shopman (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 137 people were recorded with the Campbel surname. That placed it at #16,358 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Campbel a modern rank of #35,829.
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic words "cam" meaning "crooked" and "beul" meaning "mouth" or "entrance".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Campbel bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.