Campion

Campion is a name that can refer to different things. In botany, campion is the common name for several flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, especially the European species Silene dioica (red campion) and Silene latifolia (white campion). These plants are typically perennials or short-lived perennials that produce clusters of pink to white flowers in spring and summer and are commonly found in hedgerows, woodland margins, and meadows. The name campion has historically been applied to species formerly placed in the genus Lychnis; many Lychnis species are now classified in Silene, and the common name persists for some of them, including red and white campions.

In onomastics, Campion is an English surname. It is borne by several notable individuals, including Thomas Campion (1567–1619), an English poet, composer, and physician known for his lute songs and his writings on medicine. The surname has appeared in other historical and contemporary contexts as well, reflecting its use as a family name in various regions.

Beyond plants and people, the name Campion has been used in literature and culture as a motif or character name in some works, and it appears in the names of institutions or places in regions where the surname has historical presence. The term thus spans natural history, genealogy, and cultural usage, with its primary associations rooted in botany and genealogy.