Campbell is a Scottish and Northern Irish surname —derived from the Gaelic roots cam ("crooked") and beul ("mouth")—that originated as a nickname meaning "crooked mouth" or "wry mouthed." Clan Campbell, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans, traces its origins to the ancient Britons of Strathclyde. Between 1200 and 1500 the Campbells emerged as one of the most powerful families in Scotland, dominant in Argyll and capable of wielding a wider influence and authority from Edinburgh to the Hebrides and western Highlands. Today, the name is found throughout the world as a consequence of large scale emigration from Scotland from the 18th century onwards and the settlement of the Scottish diaspora in many countries particularly the United States, Canada and Australia. Due to significant Scottish immigration in the 16th and 17th Centuries, the name is also found across the island of Ireland but particularly in Ulster. Outside of Ulster, Irish occurrences of the name can also derive from the surname Mac Cathmhaoil, from which also descend the surnames MacCawill, McCaul, MacCall, and Caulfield. The Irish pronunciation of Cathmhaoil ("battle chief") coincided with the Scottish pronunciation of Campbell, and the name was anglicised accordingly. Campbell is the third most common surname in Northern Ireland, fourth most common in Jamaica, seventh most common in Scotland, 12th most common in Canada, 18th most common in Australia, 41st most common in the United States and 65th most common in England. Notable persons named Campbell Several people named Alexander Campbell Several people named Alistair Campbell Several people named Andrew Campbell Several people named Archibald Campbell Several people named Arthur Campbell Several people named Bruce Campbell Several people named Carol Campbell Several people named Catherine Campbell Several people named Chris Campbell Several people named Charles Campbell Several people named Colin Campbell Several people named Daniel Campbell Several people named Dave Campbell Several people named David Campbell Several people named Donald Campbell Several people named Duncan Campbell Several people named Edward Campbell Several people named Eric Campbell Several people named Geoffrey Campbell Several people named George Campbell Several people named Glen Campbell Several people named Gordon Campbell Several people named Graeme Campbell Several people named Gregory Campbell Several people named Ian Campbell Several people named Jack Campbell Several people named James Campbell Several people named Jeff Campbell Several people named Jim Campbell Several people named Jimmy Campbell Several people named John Campbell