Clan Bell

Item code: C12

The name Bell may derive from the French 'bel' meaning fair or handsome. As the name is descriptive, it should not be assumed that there is necessarily any common ancestry. The borders family of Bell participated in the Borders disturbances as a riding clan of border reivers. This family may have descended from a Norman follower of David I who reigned until 1153. By the end of the thirteenth century he was well established in Dumfriesshire, Berwickshire and Perthshire. In 1426 James I confirmed the Kirkconnel lands of William Bell in the register of the great seal. In 1517 Clan Bell received Royal notice to maintain peacce in the Borders. Following the unification of the Crowns in 1603, many of the Bells of the Borders emigrated, some to the new plantations in Ulster, and many further afield, to Australia and New Zealand. The Bells assoiated with the tower of Blacket House stayed in Scotland, despite its destuction at the hands of the English in 1547, but moved to the cities. Dr Joseph Bell, great-grandson of Benjamin Bell of Blacket House, is believed to have been the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes General Sir John Bell had a distinguished military service in the Napoleonic Wars, and was a friend of the Duke of Wellington. Alexander Graham Bell was the pioneer in the development of the telephone.

Septs of the Clan: Baxter, Bell, Blue, Brown, Millikin/Mullikin, MacBaxter, MacNamell.

Clan MacMillan: Bacster Baker Bakster Baxstair Baxstar Baxstare Baxster Baxtar Baxter Bel Bele Bell Belle Bleu Blue Braun Bron Brouin Broun Broune Brown Browne Browyn Brun Brune Brwne Fuccatour Fuckater Fugater Fugatour Fuggatour Fuktor Fuktour Futtor MacBaxtar MacBaxter MacFaktur MacFuktor MacFuktur MacGhilleghuirm MacGilleghuirm MacGilliegorm MacIlvail MacIngvale MacInnocater MacInnowcater MacInnowcatter MacInnugatour MacInocader MacInuctar MacInucter MacInvaille MacInvale MacInville MacKmillan MacKnockater MacKnocker MacKnockiter MacMhaolain MacMigatour MacMilane MacMillan MacMilland MacMillen MacMillin MacMillon MacMolan MacMolane MacMolland MacMuckater MacMulan MacMulane MacMullan MacMullen MacMullin MacMullon MacMuncater MacMuncatter MacMungatour MacMylan MacMyllan MacMyllane MacNamaoile MacNamell MacNamil MacNamill MacNaucater MacNomiolle MacNomoille MacNowcater MacNowcatter MacNucadair MacNucater MacNucator MacNucatter MacNuctar MacNuicator MacVaxter Makbaxstar Makinnocater Makmilane Makmillem Makmulane Makmullane Makmylan Makmyllan Makmyllane Makmyllen Nucator Valker Waker Walcair Walcar Walcare Walcer Walkar Walker Waulcar