Clebborn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Clebborn has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family 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 Clebborn family

The surname Clebborn 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.

A strong Yorkshire family, Robert de Cleburne was a Freeman of York in 1364 as was Oliver Clibburn in 1475. Early Cheshire records also show the name as a forename, specifically Clibern Biscop who was listed in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1202. 3

In some cases, the Clayborne (an its many variants) was centralized in Norfolk where the first record was of Thomas Clabeyn who was Bailiff of Yarmouth in 1412. William Clayoorne, Norfolk was registered there 2 Edward VI (during the second year of Edward VI's reign) and Thomas Clayborne was Mayor of Lynn Regis in 1573. 4

Early History of the Clebborn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clebborn research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1364, 1475, 1600, 1604, 1621, 1626, 1634, 1648, 1660 and 1677 are included under the topic Early Clebborn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clebborn 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 Clebborn have been found, 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 Clebborn family

Distinguished members of the family include William Cleburn of Moate Castle, County Westmeath; and William Claiborne (c. 1600-1677), (Clayborne and Cleyburne), an English Puritan pioneer, surveyor from Kent, an early settler in Virginia and Maryland in 1621. He rose to become Secretary...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Clebborn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Clebborn family to Ireland

Some of the Clebborn 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.

Clebborn migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Clebborn, or a variant listed above:

Clebborn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel Clebborn, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 5

The Clebborn 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.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
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)