Contents [hide]

Clarkson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Clarkson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Clarkson has a rich and ancient history. It is an Anglo-Saxon name that was originally derived from the popular family name Clark, and means the son of Clark. The surname also has an occupational origin and was likely derived from the trade or profession of the original bearer. In this case the surname denotes that the bearer was a clerical worker or a clergyman who was employed in religious institutions to write books from old documents. The bearers of this surname were handed high status in the community because of their ability to read and write. One must remember that during the Middle Ages most of the population was quite illiterate by today's standards.

Early Origins of the Clarkson family

The surname Clarkson was first found in Yorkshire where it is "a well-known Yorkshire surname, which has spread over the North of England." 1

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Johannes Clerke and Thomas Clerkson, father and son; Ricardus Clerkson; Wilielmus Klereson; and Alicia Clerkson. 1

By the early 15th century, the name appeared in Scotland. "Thomas Clerkson de Aldane was a forestaller in Aberdeen in 1402. Simon Clerici (Latin) witnessed an instrument of resignation in Brechin in 1434, and a booth was set to Besse Clerkson in Lanark in 1488." 2

Early History of the Clarkson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clarkson research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1500, 1501, 1504, 1513, 1531, 1567, 1615, 1622, 1649, 1667, 1685, 1686, 1697, 1716, 1721 and 1763 are included under the topic Early Clarkson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clarkson Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Clarkson include Clarkson, Clarksone, Clerkson and others.

Early Notables of the Clarkson family

Notables of the family at this time include

Agnes Clarkson who in the 'Test' in lowland Scotland refused to acknowledge the King or his church and was hanged for Witchcraft
David Clarkson (1622-1686), was an ejected minister, son of Robert Clarkson, was born at Bradford, Yorkshire, where he was baptised on 3 March 1622. 3
John Clarkson (1697-1763), was a Dominican friar, professed at Bornhem in 1716, studied afterwards at Louvain, and was ordained priest in 1721. 3
Laurence Clarkson (1615-1667), sometimes called Claxton, was an English theologian and accused heretic

Clarkson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Clarkson is the 3,266^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 4 However, in New Zealand, the name Clarkson is ranked the 608^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,185 people with that name. 5 And in the United Kingdom, the name Clarkson is the 639^th popular surname with an estimated 10,300 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Clarkson family to Ireland

Some of the Clarkson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clarkson migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Clarkson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Anne Clarkson who settled in Virginia in 1638 with Jane, her sister
Ann Clarkson, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 7
Jane Clarkson, who landed in Virginia in 1638 7
Edward Clarkson, who arrived in Maryland in 1652 7
James Clarkson, who landed in Maryland in 1679 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Clarkson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Clarkson, who landed in Virginia in 1719 7

Clarkson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mary Rutherford Clarkson, who landed in New York in 1801 7
George Clarkson, who arrived in New York in 1833 7
William Clarkson, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1842 7
Alexander Clarkson, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1843 7
Francis Clarkson, who landed in New York, NY in 1844 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Clarkson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Clarkson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Charles Clarkson, who arrived in Fort Cumberland Nova Scotia in 1774
Charles Clarkson, aged 19, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1774

Clarkson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Clarkson, who landed in Canada in 1816
John Clarkson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1848
Mrs. Clarkson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1848

Clarkson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Clarkson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mrs. Lydia Clarkson, (b. 1799), aged 27, Irish laundress who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. John Clarkson, (Jack, Ragshaw), (b. 1803), aged 24, English convict who was convicted in East Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Champion" on 24th May 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1827 9
Robert Clarkson, English convict from Oxford, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. William Clarkson who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Charles Clarkson, English convict who was convicted in Norwich, Norfolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bardaster" on 7th September 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Clarkson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Clarkson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Clarkson, aged 34, a farmer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
Sarah Clarkson, aged 26, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
Elizabeth Clarkson, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
George Clarkson, aged 5, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
Ann Clarkson, aged 4, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Clarkson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13

Clarkson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Richard Clarkson, who arrived in Jamaica in 1685

Contemporary Notables of the name Clarkson (post 1700) +

Kelly Brianne Clarkson (b. 1982), birth name of Kelly Clarkson, an American Grammy Award winning pop singer and songwriter, best known for her songs "A Moment Like This", "Since U Been Gone", "Behind These Hazel Eyes", and "Because of You"
Thaddeus S. Clarkson, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Omaha, Nebraska, 1890-95 14
Samuel James Clarkson (b. 1925), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Oakland County 4th District, 1959-60; Defeated, 1952, 1956, 1960; Mayor of Southfield, Michigan, 1961-67 14
Rufus Clarkson, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County, 1789-90 14
Robert L. Clarkson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut, 1892 14
Paul Clarkson, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from South Carolina, 1972 14
Matthew Clarkson (1733-1800), American politician, Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1792-96 14
Matthew Clarkson (1758-1825), American politician, Member of New York State Senate Southern District, 1793-95 14
James S. Clarkson (1842-1918), American Republican politician, Iowa Republican State Chair, 1869-71; Postmaster at Des Moines, Iowa, 1871-79; Member of Republican National Committee from Iowa, 1880-96 14
J. T. Clarkson, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1924 14
... (Another 26 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 18th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/champion
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bardaster
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html