Clairbourne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The lineage of the name Clairbourne begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they 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 Clairbourne family

The surname Clairbourne 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 Clairbourne family

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

Clairbourne Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Clairbourne has undergone many spelling variations, including 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 Clairbourne family (pre 1700)

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

Migration of the Clairbourne family to Ireland

Some of the Clairbourne 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 Clairbourne family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Clairbourne were among those contributors: 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.

Contemporary Notables of the name Clairbourne (post 1700) +

Clairbourne Watkins Patty Jr., American educator, Arkansas

The Clairbourne 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.