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Origins of the Clayton surname

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What does the name Clayton mean?

The Clayton surname is English. It has geographical origins, and comes from the Middle English 'clay tun' (town/village on clay soil). The title is believed to have been given to people who came from one of the many places around the country that have been given this name, and their lineage.

Alternative variations of the name Clayton

Clayton, Claytone, Cleighton, Claton, Cleiton

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Where do most Claytons live?

In 1921, most Claytons lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Claytons

How common is your surname?

236th most common surname in the UK

We have 171,000 records for the Clayton surname. The oldest one dates back to 1220.

Who were Claytons most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Johnsons

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Claytons.

What are the most common Clayton first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Clayton family members

Common jobs for Claytons

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Claytons in 1921
Cotton Weaver

838

Dressmaker

601

Domestic Servant

339

Laundress

299

Housekeeper

298

Common Male occupations for Claytons in 1921
Coal Miner

699

General Labourer

557

Agricultural Labourer

527

Farmer

486

Farm Labourer

355

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Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 190,000 family trees with the Clayton surname

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