Clarkstown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The history of the Clarkstown name began with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is 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 Clarkstown family

The surname Clarkstown 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 Clarkstown family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clarkstown 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 Clarkstown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clarkstown Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Clarkstown family name include Clarkson, Clarksone, Clerkson and others.

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

Migration of the Clarkstown family to Ireland

Some of the Clarkstown 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.

Migration of the Clarkstown family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Clarkstown surname or a spelling variation of the name include : Anne Clarkson who settled in Virginia in 1638 with Jane, her sister; Richard Clarkson arrived in Jamaica in 1685; Charles Clarkson arrived in Fort Cumberland Nova Scotia in 1774..

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)