Show ContentsClinger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Clinger is a local surname; more specifically, it is a topographical surname, derived from a feature of the physical geography near where the original bearer lived or held land. Checking further we found the name was derived from the Old German word for ravine or gorge.

Early Origins of the Clinger family

The surname Clinger was first found in Swabia, where this family made important contributions toward the development of this district from ancient times. Always prominent in social and political affairs, the family formed alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Individual bearers of this name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Hugo der Clingere of Breisgau (c.1200,) Heydeke bei dem Clinghe of Quedlinburg in the Harz Mountains (c.1300,) Clingeler of Wuerttemberg (c.1283,) and Heincz in der Clingen of Wuerzburg (c.1409).

Early History of the Clinger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clinger research. Another 186 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1752, 1812 and 1831 are included under the topic Early Clinger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clinger Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kling, Klingel, Klinge, Klinger, Klingler, Klingen, Klingle, Klingele, Klinghe, Clinghe, Cling, Clingel, Clinge, Clinger, Clingere, Clingen, Clingle, Clingeler, Klingeler, Klinglin and many more.

Early Notables of the Clinger family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Clinger Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clinger Ranking

In the United States, the name Clinger is the 12,871st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Clinger migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Clinger Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Christian Clinger at age 26 arrived in Philadelphia in 1732
  • Christen Clinger, aged 26, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Clinger (post 1700) +

  • William Floyd Clinger Jr. (1929-2021), American attorney and politician, Chair of the House Oversight Committee (1995-1997), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania (1979-1997)
  • Dallas A. Clinger, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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