Show ContentsCamplin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Camplin reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Camplin is for a maker or seller of camel hair cloth. Looking back even further, we found the name was originally derived from the Anglo Norman French word camelin, which means camel.

Early Origins of the Camplin family

The surname Camplin was first found in Norfolk, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Camplin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Camplin research. Another 242 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1400, 1401, 1500, 1627, 1664, 1674, 1679, 1790, 1791 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Camplin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Camplin Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Camplin are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Camplin include Camplin, Campelin, Camplyon, Camplyn, Camplen, Camplinge and many more.

Early Notables of the Camplin family

More information is included under the topic Early Camplin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Camplin migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Camplin, or a variant listed above:

Camplin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • George Henry Camplin, who settled in Nebraska in 1908

Canada Camplin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Camplin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Camplin, who arrived in Toronto in 1871
  • Richard Camplin, who settled in Ontario in 1871
  • Jacob Camplin, who settled in Ontario in 1871
  • Charles Camplin, who settled in Ontario in 1871
Camplin Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Joseph Camplin, who settled in Canada in 1911

Australia Camplin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Camplin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Camplin, English bricklayer who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 1
  • Isaac Camplin, aged 32, a gardener, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Punjab"

Contemporary Notables of the name Camplin (post 1700) +

  • Wendell R. Camplin, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1956 2
  • Troy Camplin, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for Texas State House of Representatives 112th District, 2010 2
  • Orion F. Camplin, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1956; Socialist Labor Candidate for Presidential Elector for New Jersey, 1972 2
  • M. B. Camplin, American politician, Mayor of Sheridan, Wyoming, 1918-21 2
  • Alisa Camplin (b. 1974), Australian aerial skier who won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics


  1. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook