Campbell of Auchinbreck

The Auchinbreck of Campbell family (also spelled Auchenbreck, Achnabreac, etc., from Scots Gaelic "Ach[adh] nam Breac" meaning either Field of the Trout or Speckled Field), was founded by Duncan Campbell of Kilmichael, in Glassary, Argyllshire, Scotland. He was the son of Duncan, first Lord Campbell of the Clan Campbell, by his second wife Margaret, daughter of Sir John Stewart of Blackhall, the illegitimate son of King Robert III of Scotland. The family of the Lords Campbell later became Dukes of Argyll, and remain chiefs of Clan Campbell. Duncan Campbell, as a grandson of King Robert III, received a considerable estate confirmed by royal charter dated 19 June 1452. The family remained at their estate of Auchinbreck, from which they took their title, until 1641. The Campbells of Auchinbreck were commissioned to provide military training and were used by the Earls of Argyll as military support. In 1628 the then head of the family of Campbells in Auchinbreck received a baronetcy, which included a grant of North American land in Nova Scotia.

The arms of Campbell, won following the achievements of the Duke of Argyll, chief of the clan (Mac Cailein mor), used gyronny of eight Or and Sable as their variation of the field. All Campbell arms use the gyronny, which is one of the sub-ordinaries produced by dividing the shield per pale per fess, per bend and per bend sinister into eight triangular portions. The Campbells of Auchinbreck are differenced by the addition of a bordure, and are gyronny of eight Or and Sable a bordure chequy Ermine and Purpure. The crest is a dexter hand Proper, holding a spur Or.

Sir Dugald Campbell of Auchinbreck had his chief stronghold at Auchenbreck Castle of which fragments remain at Auchnabreck Farm. This had passed to his great-great-grandfather in around 1500. and is traditionally regarded as the remains of Auchinbreck Castle, the residence of Sir D. Campbell, whose initials and crest dated 1610 appear on a stone in the present, Kilmodan Church wall. The only visible remains are a wall in the centre of the garden and the slope of the North side, showing where the castle once stood. The farmhouse and the mill of Auchenbreck were built from material taken from the castle. In 1641, Sir Dugald Campbell, 3rd Baronet of Auchinbreck, died while attempting to put out a catastrophic fire at the castle. His son, Sir Duncan Campbell decided to move the family to Carnassarie Castle which Sir Dugald had purchased from the Earl of Argyll.

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