Clephant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Ireland

Etymology of Clephant

The name Clephant was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It comes from Osgoode Clapa who was a nobleman of Danish or Saxon origin. As a man of noble worth he attended the Court of King Canute. Another possible origin of the surname Clephant may be an extension of the Old English Clop which meant lump. It was often applied as a nickname to someone who was large and ungainly. Essentially the surname Clephant was adopted from Clepan in Sussex which in turn came form Osgoode Clappa. It was adopted in England as a surname only after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Early Origins of the Clephant family

Early History of the Clephant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clephant research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Clephant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clephant Spelling Variations

Clephant has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Clephant have been found, including Clephane, Clepane, Clepan, Cleppin and others.

Early Notables of the Clephant family

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

Migration of the Clephant family to Ireland

Some of the Clephant 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.

Migration of the Clephant family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Clephants to arrive on North American shores: James Clephane who settled in Norfolk Virginia in 1817; from whom was descended the distinguished U.S. family of the same name.