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 280 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1207, 1273, 1455, and 1487 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 (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Clapson Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Clapson family to the New World and Oceana
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
- James Clapson, who arrived in America in 1885 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Clapson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Alfred Clapson, aged 21, a gardener, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879