he topic of sept names, or names associated with a clan that are not “the” clan name, is one that is filled with misinformation. In part, this is because the initial drive to compile lists of septs came from the mill industries in an effort to provide a tartan for everyone, and thus increase the sale of their goods.
   Until recently, books on clans and tartans containing "Sept" lists were sometimes considered to be largely tourist fare, and consequently their purported information was put out most often without any input from the clans involved. The result is that very little serious research has been done into the question of what came to be called "sept" names. Those names associated with Clan Campbell continue to be researched.
   The names listed here are from the official Clan Campbell sept list. If your name does not appear here but you have information that your family followed a Campbell Chief then you are a member of the clan. Successive MacCailein Mors have chosen to leave the sept list as is for now, but people bearing other surnames undoubtedly were part of the clan. Some with different names are of the Chiefly blood, but assumed patronymics (Mac/Mc, son of) to honor one of their Campbell forebears. The MacConnochie Campbells are but one example: Connochie is a derivative of Donnachie, Gaelic for Duncan, and the descendants of one Duncan Campbell chose to honor him by assuming that patronymic.
   One instance of a connection of a name to a clan cannot be used to argue that all of that name belong to that clan; some names are associated with more than one clan, or have origin in both the Highlands and Lowlands. Additionally, some Highland names were anglicized to appear more "civilized" to lowlanders and English, who considered the Highlanders to be quite barbaric.
   The spellings of the names listed are those believed to be most common. Variations in spelling are common, and have little bearing on the origin of the names. Mac and Mc are interchangeable.
   Three categories of associated names are listed: those surnames (family names) not being Campbell but known to be of Campbell ancestry; associated names whose relationship to Clan Campbell is well documented; those whose exact point of association is not yet clear.
   Confusion about family or clan associations is not unusual. To aid in this MacCailein Mor has chosen to continue an ancient tradition: those who accept him as their clan Chief are considered to be of the clan.