NameCensus.

UK surname

Clayson

A surname derived from a location name containing the word "clay", likely referring to a person who lived near or worked with clay.

In the 1881 census there were 644 people recorded with the Clayson surname, ranking it #5,536 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 810, ranked #6,839, down from #5,536 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellingborough, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dover, Forest of Dean and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clayson is 991 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.8%.

1881 census count

644

Ranked #5,536

Modern count

810

2016, ranked #6,839

Peak year

1911

991 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clayson had 644 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,536 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 810 in 2016, ranked #6,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 991 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Clayson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clayson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clayson 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 392 #6,129
1861 historical 484 #5,397
1881 historical 644 #5,536
1891 historical 723 #5,460
1901 historical 889 #5,190
1911 historical 991 #4,571
1997 modern 864 #6,158
1998 modern 895 #6,186
1999 modern 887 #6,280
2000 modern 882 #6,266
2001 modern 841 #6,395
2002 modern 859 #6,417
2003 modern 835 #6,426
2004 modern 829 #6,476
2005 modern 792 #6,660
2006 modern 785 #6,727
2007 modern 786 #6,789
2008 modern 793 #6,802
2009 modern 802 #6,875
2010 modern 817 #6,896
2011 modern 804 #6,918
2012 modern 821 #6,699
2013 modern 840 #6,697
2014 modern 838 #6,737
2015 modern 815 #6,825
2016 modern 810 #6,839

Geography

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Where Claysons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellingborough, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Elham and Harrold. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dover, Forest of Dean, Sefton, Shepway and Northampton. 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 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Elham Kent
5 Harrold Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dover 009 Dover
2 Forest of Dean 005 Forest of Dean
3 Sefton 022 Sefton
4 Shepway 001 Shepway
5 Northampton 027 Northampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clayson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clayson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clayson, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Clayson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Clayson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Clayson is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clayson is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clayson falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clayson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Clayson

The surname Clayson originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "claeg" meaning clay and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a clay-built settlement or worked with clay.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Claggetune." This entry refers to a place in Warwickshire, indicating that the name was initially associated with a specific location.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms such as Claitun, Claytun, and Claytone, reflecting the evolution of spelling and pronunciation over time. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Clayson include:

1. William Clayson (c. 1540-1592), an English composer and organist who served as the organist at the Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Westminster. 2. John Clayson (c. 1600-1670), a prominent merchant and landowner in the county of Essex, England. 3. Elizabeth Clayson (1672-1733), a renowned author and poet from Oxfordshire, whose works explored themes of nature and spirituality. 4. Richard Clayson (1781-1857), a British naval officer who participated in the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Naval General Service Medal for his bravery. 5. Samuel Clayson (1822-1904), an English architect known for his influential designs of churches and public buildings in the Gothic Revival style.

The surname Clayson can also be traced to various place names in England, such as Claydon in Oxfordshire, Clayworth in Nottinghamshire, and Claysmore in Dorset. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clayson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clayson 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. Kent leads with 229 Claysons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.70x.

County Total Index
Kent 229 10.70x
Northamptonshire 207 35.09x
Bedfordshire 47 14.47x
Middlesex 45 0.72x
Surrey 38 1.24x
Lancashire 19 0.26x
Nottinghamshire 15 1.77x
Huntingdonshire 7 5.62x
Warwickshire 6 0.38x
Essex 5 0.40x
Yorkshire 5 0.08x
Cheshire 4 0.29x
Hertfordshire 3 0.69x
Leicestershire 3 0.43x
Monmouthshire 2 0.44x
Sussex 2 0.19x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.26x
Cornwall 1 0.14x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.34x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wellingborough in Northamptonshire leads with 89 Claysons recorded in 1881 and an index of 300.07x.

Place Total Index
Wellingborough 89 300.07x
Elham 47 1835.94x
Harrold 47 2136.36x
Brafield On Green 38 3275.86x
Northampton St Giles 29 129.06x
St Margarets At Cliffe 23 1796.88x
Northampton Priory St 20 56.50x
Ramsgate 17 48.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 11.09x
Folkestone 12 28.91x
Margate St John Baptist 10 25.52x
Nackington 10 3846.15x
Cheriton 7 80.28x
Gorton 7 10.01x
Ickham Well 7 569.11x
Mile End New Town London 7 56.50x
Northampton St Sepulchre 7 23.33x
Nottingham St Peter 7 74.23x
Sawtry All Sts 7 479.45x
Stelling Minnis 7 3500.00x
Ash Next Sandwich 6 126.85x
Bridge 6 326.09x
Lambeth 6 1.10x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.74x
Ratcliffe London 6 17.32x
Tonbridge 6 7.77x
Bermondsey 5 2.68x
Charlton 5 35.19x
Deal 5 27.40x
Great Houghton 5 704.23x
Hillmorton 5 177.31x
Moulton 5 152.44x
Northampton All Sts 5 24.98x
Ringwould 5 273.22x
Sturry 5 197.63x
Westerham 5 101.21x
Wingham 5 201.61x
Barrow In Furness 4 3.95x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.47x
Cogenhoe 4 533.33x
Elmsted 4 430.11x
Everton 4 1.69x
Hackney London 4 1.14x
Kensington London 4 1.15x
Maidstone 4 6.28x
Rawmarsh 4 18.21x
Rotherhithe 4 5.16x
St Marylebone London 4 1.19x
Barfreston 3 1200.00x
Barham 3 137.61x
Canterbury St Mary 3 20.89x
Chipping Barnet 3 39.68x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.82x
Great Creaton 3 447.76x
Heston 3 14.40x
Kegworth 3 64.94x
Newington 3 1.29x
St Lawrence 3 20.39x
Basford 2 5.13x
Chelsea London 2 1.06x
Chepstow 2 25.91x
Ewell 2 31.01x
Hyde 2 4.89x
Islington London 2 0.33x
Liverpool 2 0.44x
Mile End Old Town London 2 1.50x
Paddington London 2 0.87x
Swingfield 2 240.96x
Wanstead 2 9.23x
West Ham 2 0.73x
Woolwich 2 2.53x
Chartham 1 18.76x
Derby St Alkmund 1 3.40x
Knowsley 1 37.17x
Lyminge 1 54.35x
Macclesfield 1 1.63x
Nonington 1 58.82x
Royal Navy 1 1.57x
St Luke London 1 0.99x
Wye 1 30.21x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Clayson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clayson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 644 people were recorded with the Clayson surname. That placed it at #5,536 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clayson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 810 in 2016. That gives Clayson a modern rank of #6,839.

What does the Clayson surname mean?

A surname derived from a location name containing the word "clay", likely referring to a person who lived near or worked with clay.

What does the Clayson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clayson 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.