The first records of the family Sempill/Semple were from the county of Renfrewshire in the 1200's. The county is located in the west of Scotland, just east of the city of Glasgow on the River Clyde. Robert de Sempill witnessed a charter of Malcolm, Earl of Lennox ca. 1280.
The Semples had great possessions of land and held the office of steward of the Barony of Renfrew. This barony or lords has been carried down to the present day. See Barons of Clan Semple