Show ContentsClendenen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Clendenen surname was taken on from the place name Glendonwyne, a parish of Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire, on record since the 13th century. [1] [2] The name literally means "one who came from Glendinning (glen of the fair hill)." [3]

Early Origins of the Clendenen family

The surname Clendenen was first found in Dumfriesshire. "Douglas (Baronage) states that a charter was granted by John Macgill of that Ilk (de eodem) to Adam de Glendonwyn of all his part of the lands and beronies of Clifton and Merbotel in the shire of Roxburgh prior to 1286." [4]

Continuing from this source: "In 1313 Sir Adam obtained a discharge of all bygone feu-duties from Archibald Douglas, lord of Galloway, and in 1398 John of Glendonwyne and Symoun of Glendonwyne were two of the 'borowis' for the earl of Douglas's bounds of the West March, and Symon of Glendonwyn was hostage for Archibald, Earl of Douglas, 1408." [4]

The Glenday (Glendy) variant is "a common name in Angus from the district of that name. William Glendy obtained a decree against the Earl of Craufurd in 1569." [4]

Early History of the Clendenen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clendenen research. Another 253 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1239, 1250, 1387, 1388, 1401, 1408, 1450, 1451, 1467, 1504, 1587, 1599, 1667, 1720, 1798 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Clendenen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clendenen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Glendinning, Glendowyn, Glendowyne, Glendonyn, Glendonwyn, Glendening, Glendon, Glenden, Glendin, Glendining, Glendinnin, Glendyning, Glendounn, Clendenning, Clendinning and many more.

Early Notables of the Clendenen family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Matthew de Glendonwyn (d. 1408), late 14th and early 15th century bishop of Glasgow, elected to the see after the death of Cardinal Walter Wardlaw, his predecessor as bishop, elected sometime between Wardlaw's death in September and Matthew's first appearance as bishop-elect in December, consecrated some months after his election...
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Clendenen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Clendenen family to Ireland

Some of the Clendenen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Clendenen migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Clendenen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Clendenen, who settled in New York in 1807
Clendenen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Hilda Marian Clendenen, aged 17, who landed in America from Barbados, in 1906
  • Henry Clendenen, aged 32, who settled in America from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, in 1907
  • Mary J. Clendenen, who immigrated to the United States, in 1911
  • Mary Clendenen, aged 29, who arrived at New York City, in 1912
  • Florence Clendenen, aged 15, who immigrated to Hudson, N. Y., in 1914
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Clendenen (post 1700) +

  • Jim Clendenen (d. 2021), American winemaker and the owner of Au Bon Climat, a winery based in Santa Maria, California
  • J. G. Clendenen, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Greenbrier County, 1954, 1962 [5]


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. 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)
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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