Contents [hide]

Clemmens History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Clemmens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland
Scotland

The origins of the name Clemmens are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the given name Clement which means the son of Clement. The name is from Latin origin and applies to a mild or merciful individual. It gained popularity in Medieval Europe when it was borne by an early saint who was a disciple of St. Paul, and later when the name was used by several early popes.

Early Origins of the Clemmens family

The surname Clemmens was first found in Brecknock, in the Welsh princedom of Powys, located in the border country between Wales and England. A bearer of Clement is said to have arrived in the Norman Conquest of England with Bernard Newmarche. Together they later fought in Brecon where they conquered the Lordship of Caron; after this battle Clement was given land at Llangorse Lake and at Cathedine.

There is a record of a grant of these lands to Geoffrey Clement made at Westminster by Edward 1 on the 10th February 1290. There has also long been a family of this name in Oxfordshire, where record of the Knights Templar show William and Richard Clement in 1153, and Robertus Clemens in 1155. 1

The name was "enormously popular in the 13th century. Hence as a surname itself and its variants will be immortalized in our directories." 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Eustace filius Clement, Oxfordshire; Hugh Clement, Cambridgeshire; Richard Clemence, Huntingdonshire; Matthew Clemens, Oxfordshire; Peter filius Clement, Salop (Shropshire); and Clemens Janitor, Norfolk. 2

Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Clemens Alius Elenoe; Johannes Clement; and Petrus Clementson as all holding lands as that time. 2

In Scotland, "the following spellings all occur in 1684 (Parish): MacClymont, McClamont, McClamot, McClemen, McClement, MeClemin, McClymon, McCIymond, and McLymond, and Clymont. McClymonts are mentioned as farmers in Ayrshire in 1613. James McClymont, witness in Carrick, 1687." 3 The name is thought to have been "from Gaelic MacLaomuinn, 'son of Lamont.' In the Dean of Lismore's Book we find McClymont along with Clynelymyn (i.e. Clan Lamont). M'Lagmanid 1358, MacLagmayn 1410, Mc Laiman 1802, M'Lawmane c. 1353." 3

Early History of the Clemmens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clemmens research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1162, 1210, 1233, 1258, 1273, 1379, 1489, 1508, 1570, 1572, 1594, 1626, 1660, 1685, 1742, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Clemmens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clemmens 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. Clemmens has been spelled many different ways, including Clements, Clement, Clemens, Climer and others.

Early Notables of the Clemmens family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Clement of Dunblane (d. 1258), a Dominican friar, and close associate of King Alexander II of Scotland, who was made Bishop of Dunblane; and Gregory Clement (1594-1660), an English Member of Parliament (MP) and one of the regicides of King Charles I, he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Charing Cross on 17 October 1660.Margaret Clements or Clement (1508-1570), was a learned lady, whose maiden name was...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Clemmens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Clemmens family to Ireland

Some of the Clemmens family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clemmens migration to the United States +

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 Clemmenss to arrive in North America:

Clemmens Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Clemmens, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1775 4

Clemmens Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mrs. Clemmens, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4

Clemmens migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Clemmens Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Clemmens, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Mr. John Clemmens, (b. 1861), aged 30, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Dorunda" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 3rd January 1891 6
Mrs. Kate Clemmens, (b. 1864), aged 27, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Dorunda" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 3rd January 1891 6

Clemmens migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Clemmens Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Francis Clemmens, (b. 1852), aged 22, Cornish farm labourer departing on 7th May 1874 aboard the ship "Eastern Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 22nd July 1874 7
Mrs. Mary A. Clemmens, (b. 1853), aged 21, Cornish settler departing on 7th May 1874 aboard the ship "Eastern Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 22nd July 1874 7
Mr. James Clemmens, (b. 1861), aged 17, Cornish farm labourer departing on 18th November 1878 aboard the ship "Boyne" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th February 1879 7
Mr. John Clemmens, (b. 1863), aged 15, Cornish farm labourer departing on 18th November 1878 aboard the ship "Boyne" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th February 1879 7
Miss Ada Clemmens, (b. 1875), aged 3, Cornish settler departing on 18th November 1878 aboard the ship "Boyne" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th February 1879 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Clemmens family +

USS Arizona

Mr. Claude Albert Clemmens, American Seaman First Class from Oklahoma, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 8

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html