Clan Campbell

The Orr connection to Clan Campbell is rooted in the feudal system where small families gave allegiance to a larger, more powerful, family. Clan or family membership comes about through three means: birth, as generally understood by having one of the surnames of a clan or family; marriage, although a woman may choose to wear her own family tartan [e.g. her father's]; and by adoption. The Orrs would appear to have become a sept through adoption thus we have John Or in Moy listed as Campbell of Cawdor family, 1578.

Clan Campbell itself is believed to stem from the race of O`Duibhne who owned the shores of Loch Awe and were the original Oire Gaidheal, or Argyll, the "Land of the Gael ". That race is said to have ended with the an heiress Eva, daughter of Paul of The Sporran ( named so as he was the carrier of the Kings money bag) who married Archibald or Gillespie Campbell. A charter of David II in 1368 gave to Archibald Campbell all the lands of Loch Awe.

Colin Mor Campbell of Lochow was knighted by Alexander III in 1288 and it is from him that chiefs take their title "Mac Cailean Mor " The Duke of Argyll is the Chief of Clan Campbell and he resides at Inveraray Castle which is a must visit if you get to the vicinity of Loch Fyne - about 45 miles north west of Glasgow. The road past Inveraray  ( the A 83) south will take you to Lochgilphead from where you can go to the Mull of Kintyre and Campbeltown  where there have been Orrs since at least 1640.

An interesting opinion of the origin of the Campbell name is given in the Montgomery Manuscripts and on the practice of small families taking the name of a more powerful family. Also of relevance is the adoption of the Brehon (Irish) law that made a clan jointly liable for the acts of its members, known as `kenkynie `

Inveraray
Campbelltown and Kintyre
Campbell of Glen Orchy.