Clayson Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Clayson is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the baptismal name Klaus, or Niklaus (Nicholas). Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. This is a little surprising, given the popularity of biblical figures in the Christian countries of Europe. Nevertheless, surnames derived from baptismal names grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, and have become one of the foremost sources for surnames. Furthermore, the suffix son was frequently added to such names which in this case would have been derived from son of Klaus or son of Nicholas.

Clayson Early Origins

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The surname Clayson was first found in Long Clawson, sometimes referred to as Claxton, a small village in Leicestershire. The village dates back to before the Domesday Book where it was recorded as Clachestone part of Framland Wapentake and held by Robert the Usher . As far as the surname is concerned, the first record of the name appears in Middlesex where they held a family seat as early as 1340. Clays le Taburer is mentioned as being Minstrel to the King and later, during the reign of King Henry IV the name emerged as Clayson in the form of Henry Clayson. By 1328 the name had migrated north to Scotland when Johanes Clayson was Chamberlain. 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.

Clayson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Clayson have been found, including Clayson, Clawson, Claxson, Claison, Clason, Clisson and many more.

Clayson Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clayson research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1336, 1407, 1364, 1370, 1370, 1373, 1380, 1392, 1382, 1389, 1392 and 1399 are included under the topic Early Clayson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clayson Early Notables (pre 1700)

Distinguished members of the family include Olivier de Clisson (1336-1407), a Breton soldier, distinguished himself at the Battle of Auray (1364), where he lost an eye in the fighting, and earned the nickname "Butcher" because his troops were ordered to take no prisoners, due to differences he went over to the...

Another 227 words (16 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Clayson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Clayson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Clayson, aged 35, a brickmaker, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Magdalena" ^[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
South Australian Register Friday 26th August 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Magdalena 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/magdalena1853.shtml

Contemporary Notables of the name Clayson (post 1700)

Christopher William Clayson, American Chairman
Jane Clayson, American journalist and television personality
William Clayson, American politician, Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska, 1927-28 ^[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Harold H. Clayson, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1900 ^[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Sir Eric Clayson, Chairman of Birmingham Post and Mail Group

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Citations

^ Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
^ South Australian Register Friday 26th August 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Magdalena 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/magdalena1853.shtml
^ The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html

Other References

Best, Hugh. Debrett's Texas Peerage. New York: Coward-McCann, 1983. Print. (ISBN 069811244X).
Zieber, Eugene. Heraldry in America. Philadelphia: Genealogical Publishing Co. Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip. Noble and Gentle Men of England Or Notes Touching The Arms and Descendants of the Ancient Knightley and Gentle Houses of England Arranged in their Respective Counties 3rd Edition. Westminster: John Bowyer Nichols and Sons, 1866. Print.
Colletta, John P. They Came In Ships. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1993. Print.
Crozier, William Armstrong Edition. Crozier's General Armory A Registry of American Families Entitled to Coat Armor. New York: Fox, Duffield, 1904. Print.
Burke, Sir Bernard. General Armory Of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Ramsbury: Heraldry Today. Print.
Lennard, Reginald. Rural England 1086-1135 A Study of Social and Agrarian Conditions. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1959. Print.
Leeson, Francis L. Dictionary of British Peerages. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1986. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-1121-5).
Hanks, Hodges, Mills and Room. The Oxford Names Companion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print. (ISBN 0-19-860561-7).
Egle, William Henry. Pennsylvania Genealogies Scotch-Irish and German. Harrisburg: L.S. Hart, 1886. Print.
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The Clayson Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Clayson Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 29 January 2016 at 09:13.