Clapson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Clapson come from its first bearer, who was a person with large features or who was rather ungainly. The surname was originally derived from the Old English word clop, which literally means clump.

Early Origins of the Clapson family

The surname Clapson was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat with estates in the shire. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name is claimed to be descended from an ancient Danish noble who attended the court of King Canute, Osgod Clapa. Succeeding to this noble was Simon Clapp who is recorded in 1207 in Oxfordshire. The name is said, indirectly, to have lent its origin to many in the area such as Clapton, Clapham and Clapshaw.

Early History of the Clapson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clapson research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1207, 1273, 1455, 1487, 1808, 1847, 1854, 1861 and 1866 are included under the topic Early Clapson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clapson Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Clapson has been spelled many different ways, including Clapson, Clappson, Clappison, Clappeson, Clapison, Clapeson and many more.

Early Notables of the Clapson family

Distinguished members of the family include Antoine Louis Clappisson, born at Naples Sept. 15, 1808, died at Paris March 19, 1866, a good violin-player before becoming a composer, and published a great many romances and songs, which exhibit an easy vein of melody. Clapisson...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Clapson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clapson migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Clapsons to arrive in North America:

Clapson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Clapson, who arrived in America in 1885 1

Clapson 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:

Clapson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Clapson, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 2
Alfred Clapson, aged 21, a gardener, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879

Citations +

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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html