Clayville History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Clayville

What does the name Clayville mean?

The name Clayville is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Devon at Clayville. The surname is derived from the French, and means that the original bearers lived by clay soil.

Early Origins of the Clayville family

The surname Clayville was first found in Devon where they held a family seat. From their early beginnings, for the next few centuries, the family name also acquired other estates or manors as branches established themselves throughout England. The major conflicts of the eras, such as the War of the Roses, the English Reformation, and the English Civil War sometimes found them to be in opposing camps, with conflicting interests.

Early History of the Clayville family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clayville research. Another 31 words (2 lines of text) covering the year 1292 is included under the topic Early Clayville History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clayville Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Clayville are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Clayville include: Clayvill, Clayville, Clavile, Claville and others.

Early Notables of the Clayville family

More information is included under the topic Early Clayville Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Clayville family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Clayville or a variant listed above: Mary Clayfield, who settled in New York in 1868.