NameCensus.

UK surname

Clarson

A locational surname originating from a place named Clarson or Clareson.

In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Clarson surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 145, ranked #24,293, down from #18,324 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tamworth, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Astbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Staffordshire, Walsall and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clarson is 185 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.2%.

1881 census count

114

Ranked #18,324

Modern count

145

2016, ranked #24,293

Peak year

1891

185 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clarson had 114 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,324 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 145 in 2016, ranked #24,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 185 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Clarson surname distribution map

The map shows where the Clarson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Clarson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clarson over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 86 #18,820
1861 historical 113 #19,151
1881 historical 114 #18,324
1891 historical 185 #15,803
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 151 #17,797
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 181 #19,229
1999 modern 184 #19,178
2000 modern 168 #20,252
2001 modern 166 #20,129
2002 modern 168 #20,396
2003 modern 161 #20,697
2004 modern 154 #21,432
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 153 #21,643
2007 modern 150 #22,212
2008 modern 149 #22,530
2009 modern 150 #22,937
2010 modern 155 #22,985
2011 modern 153 #22,996
2012 modern 142 #24,148
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 148 #24,075
2015 modern 147 #24,036
2016 modern 145 #24,293

Geography

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Where Clarsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tamworth, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Astbury, Gedling and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Staffordshire, Walsall, Nottingham, Rotherham and Lambeth. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Tamworth Staffordshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Astbury Cheshire
4 Gedling Nottinghamshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Staffordshire 001 South Staffordshire
2 Walsall 037 Walsall
3 Nottingham 028 Nottingham
4 Rotherham 009 Rotherham
5 Lambeth 036 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clarson

These lists show first names that appear often with the Clarson surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clarson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clarson, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Clarson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Clarson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Clarson is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clarson is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clarson falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clarson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Clarson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Clarson

The surname Clarson is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the 13th century in the county of Yorkshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "clere," meaning bright or clear, combined with the patronymic suffix "-son," indicating "son of." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify the son of someone with a bright or radiant complexion or personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Clarson can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a certain Roger Clarson is mentioned as residing in the village of Kirkby Malzeard, Yorkshire. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of 1379, which record a John Clarson living in the nearby village of Masham.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Clarson family seems to have been well-established in various parts of Yorkshire. In 1587, a Thomas Clarson was listed as a landowner in the parish of Askrigg, and in 1642, a William Clarson was recorded as a member of the clergy in the city of York.

As the name spread across England, variations in spelling began to emerge. In the 17th century, records show the surname spelled as Clarkson, Clarksonne, and Clerkson, among others. This was likely due to the influence of the word "clerk," which was often associated with educated individuals or those involved in clerical work.

One notable figure bearing the Clarson surname was Sir Matthew Clarson (1576-1644), a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. He served as a Recorder of London and was appointed as a Baron of the Exchequer in 1640.

Another individual of historical significance was John Clarson (1680-1745), an English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1712.

In the 19th century, the Clarson family continued to leave its mark in various fields. William Clarson (1815-1892) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.

While the surname Clarson is not as common as some other English surnames, its rich history and connection to Yorkshire's heritage make it a fascinating subject of study for those interested in the origins and evolution of family names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clarson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clarson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Warwickshire leads with 23 Clarsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.50x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 23 8.50x
Staffordshire 20 5.52x
Yorkshire 16 1.50x
Cheshire 14 5.91x
Nottinghamshire 10 6.91x
Middlesex 7 0.65x
Leicestershire 6 5.04x
Derbyshire 5 2.98x
Lancashire 5 0.39x
Durham 2 0.63x
Worcestershire 2 1.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bolehall Glascote in Warwickshire leads with 19 Clarsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1652.17x.

Place Total Index
Bolehall Glascote 19 1652.17x
Congleton 10 244.50x
Tamworth 9 463.92x
Walsall Foreign 9 48.10x
Leeds 8 13.32x
Islington London 7 6.73x
Beighton 5 657.89x
Carlton 5 303.03x
Greasbrough 5 357.14x
Greasley 5 153.37x
Long Whatton 5 1923.08x
Atherstone 4 289.86x
Cheadle 4 88.50x
Coppull 3 441.18x
Bromsgrove 2 42.37x
Kimberworth 2 33.90x
Woodland 2 952.38x
Barnsley 1 9.12x
Burton Upon Trent 1 11.81x
Chipping 1 277.78x
Over Hulton 1 277.78x
Stafford St Mary 1 19.49x
Wigston Magna 1 63.29x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clarson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 5
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Betty 1
Caroline 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isaaclar 1
Isobelah 1
Jesse 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Melinda 1
Nora 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Clarson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 7
Arthur 5
William 5
David 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Henry 3
James 3
Thomas 3
George 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Abel 1
Albert 1
Amos 1
Christpher 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Royal 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Clarson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clarson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Clarson surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clarson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 145 in 2016. That gives Clarson a modern rank of #24,293.

What does the Clarson surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place named Clarson or Clareson.

What does the Clarson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clarson bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.