Clapghan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Clapghan family

The surname Clapghan was first found in Clopham (Clapham), Sussex where "Ralph de Andeon held two fees from the honour of Braiose (Testa de Neville). Hence the younger branches bore the name of Clapham, the seat of this family from nearly the Conquest. " 1 2

The West Riding of Yorkshire at Clapham was home to another branch of the family. "The manor of Clapham, which extends only over part of the township, was the property of the De Clapham family, from whom it was purchased in the reign of Charles I., by the Morleys, whose descendant is the present lord. " 3 "The Yorkshire Claphams have been the most prolific." 4

"The Claphams were a very ancient family of West Riding gentry, who took the name of a West Riding parish." 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Alexander de Clopham, Kent; Peter de Clopham, Bedfordshire; and Reginald de Clopham, Bedfordshire as all holding lands at that time. 4

Despite the aforementioned "prolific" entry for the Yorkshire branch, there was only one entry for the family in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379: Thomas de Clapham. 4

Early History of the Clapghan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clapghan research. Another 47 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1551, 1595, 1600, 1608, 1659, 1681, 1682, 1683 and 1686 are included under the topic Early Clapghan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clapghan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Clapham, Clapeham and others.

Early Notables of the Clapghan family

Distinguished members of the family include David Clapham (d. 1551), English translator, eldest son and heir of John Clapham, the fourth son of Thomas Clapham of Beamesley, Yorkshire. "He practised as a rector in the ecclesiastical courts at Doctors' Commons, and his abilities brought him into favour with Sir William Cecil, secretary of state to Edward...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Clapghan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Clapghan family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Marjorie Clapham who settled in Virginia in 1655; James Clapham arrived in New York in 1823.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.