Claborn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The present generation of the Claborn family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Cliburn, a small parish in the county of Westmorland (now part of Cumbria). The place name dates back to c. 1140 when it was listed as Clibbrun. Literally it means "stream by the cliff or bank," from the Old English words "clif" + "burna." [1]

Early Origins of the Claborn family

The surname Claborn was first found in Westmorland at Cliburn, a village and civil parish, in the West ward and union [2], now in the Eden District of Cumbria. "The parish is pleasantly situated between the rivers Eden and Lavennet, which bound it on two sides, and is intersected by the small river Lethe." [2] Cliburn Hall, is a three storey Pele tower built by Robert de Cliburn in 1387. Richard Cliburn made changes to the hall in 1567 and added a stone which reads "Richard Cleburn this they me called. In which my time hath built this Hall. A.D. 1567." St Cuthbert's Church dates back to the 12th century and was restored in the 19th century.

Early History of the Claborn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Claborn research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1364, 1475, 1660, 1600, 1677 and 1621 are included under the topic Early Claborn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Claborn Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Claborn include Clibborn, Cliborn, Cliburn, Cilborne, Cliburne, Clibborne, Clairborne, Claiborn, Claiborne, Clayborn, Clayborne, Claybourne, Claybourn, Clayburn, Clayburne, Cliburn, Cleburn, Cleborne, Cliburne, Cleburne and many more.

Early Notables of the Claborn family (pre 1700)

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Claborn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Claborn Ranking

In the United States, the name Claborn is the 18,765^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [3]

Migration of the Claborn family to Ireland

Some of the Claborn 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 Claborn family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Claborn were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: William Claybourne, who settled in Virginia in 1626; as did Edward Clayborne in 1636; Joshua Clibborn, who immigrated to Philadelphia in 1796; Eliza F. Clibborn, who sailed to New York in 1821.

The Claborn Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtus vincit invidiam
Motto Translation: Virtue overcometh envy.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/