It is believed that the Sempill name was first used to describe a person who was simple or humble and has been known to be in use in Scottish history since the 12th century.
It is Renfrewshire that the clan would come to be associated with and it is here that their traditional seat, Castle Semple, was located. The chief family clan no longer live at Castle Semple but have since moved on to Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire.
The current clan chief of Clan Sempill is James William Stuart Whitmore Sempill. He is the 21st Lord Sempill.