| ![Show Contents]() Clapton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Clapton originated with the Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled Britain. It is derived from Osgoode Clapa a nobleman of Danish or Saxon origin. As a man of noble worth he attended the Court of King Cnut. Another possible origin of the surname Clapton may be an extension of the Old English Clop which meant lump. It was often applied as a nickname to someone who was large and ungainly. It was adopted in England as a surname only after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Early Origins of the Clapton familyThe surname Clapton was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat. The name is claimed to be descended from a Danish noble who attended the court of King Canute, Osgod Clappa. Although the name was found in the late 13th century in Oxford, the Cheshire dating places Turstan de Cloptuna there in the year 1154, and succeeded by Alan de Clapeton in 1185. In its migration south, the name seems to have been transformed into Clopton, which gave rise to the village of Clopton in Suffolk, which became the family seat. There is much historic interchangeability between the records of the two spellings. The church in the village of Long Melford, Suffolk "contains many interesting monuments, among which are, one to William de Clopton, dated 1446; one to John de Clopton in 1497 and numerous brasses to the families of Clopton." 1 Early History of the Clapton familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clapton research. Another 173 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1359, 1366, 1388, 1389, 1400, 1412, 1440, 1441, 1450, 1455, 1474, 1483, 1487, 1491, 1496, 1497, 1501, 1614, 1662 and 1733 are included under the topic Early Clapton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Clapton Spelling VariationsOne relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Clapton has appeared include Clapton, Clappton, Clopton, Clapeton, Cloptun, Cloptone, Clotton, Clapperton and many more. Early Notables of the Clapton familyDistinguished members of the family include Walter de Clopton (d. 1412?), an English judge, the fourth son of Sir William de Clopton of Newnham Manor, Ashdon, Essex. "The seat of the family was Suffolk, and Sir William de Clopton appears as commissioner of array for that county in 1359. Having, however, purchased Newnham Manor in the following year, he permanently established himself there, and it remained in his posterity for some generations. For some reason, which the writ does not disclose, he and his sons Walter and Edmund were enjoined in 1366 not to leave the country on pain of forfeiture...
Another 117 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Clapton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Clapton migration to the United States | + |
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Clapton arrived in North America very early:
Clapton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- John Clapton, a bonded passenger who arrived in Maryland in 1737
Clapton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Robert Clapton, who arrived at the port of New York in 1830
- Grace Clapton, who also arrived at New York in 1830
| Clapton migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Clapton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. W. Clapton U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 2
| Clapton migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Clapton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mary Clapton, aged 29, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Standard" 3
| Contemporary Notables of the name Clapton (post 1700) | + |
- Eric Clapton CBE (b. 1945), English rock musician, singer, and songwriter and recipient of seventeen Grammy Awards 4
- Richard Clapton (b. 1949), Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist 5
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- South Australian Register Friday 14 October 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Standard 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/standard1853.shtml
- Eric Clapton. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Eric Clapton. Retrieved from http://www.ericclapton.com/
- Richard Clapton. (Retrieved 2011, January 20) Richard Clapton. Retrieved from http://www.richardclapton.com
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Clapton migration to the United States 
Clapton migration to Canada 
Clapton migration to Australia 
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