What origin is the name Clinton?

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Glinton,' a parish in Northamptonshire, three miles from Market Deeping. The change from initial 'G' to 'C' is common in nomenclature; v. Crane, Caunter, Candlin, Clendinning. Mr. Lower says the Duke of Newcastle's surname is derived from Glimpton, an estate in Oxfordshire, in early times styled and written Clinton (v. Patronymica Britannica). If this be so, Glimpton will probably be the parent of all.

Ivo de Clynton, Salop, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

William de Clynton, Derbyshire, ibid.

Geoffrey de Clinton, Gloucestershire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Henry de Clinton, Yorkshire, ibid.

Thomas de Clinton, Buckinghamshire, ibid.

1674. John Green and Anne Clinton: Marriage Alleg. (Canterbury).

1683. Married — Richard Clinton and Mary Gray: St. James, Clerkenwell.

— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

Most probably in Scotland a shortened form of Macclinton, which see. John Clinton in Laich Lochfergus, 1674 (Kirkcudbright). John Clinton resident in parish of Senneck, 1684 (RPC., 3. ser. IX, p. 569).

— The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

It is true that MacClinton has been recorded as a synonym of MacAlinden (a name dealt with in More Irish Families pp. 20, 21) but the use of Clinton in this way is so rare that we may disregard it in this note. Clinton itself is a rare name in Ireland to-day, but it is so frequent in our records from the thirteenth century that it deserves a place in any book dealing with Irish families. This is not the place to give specific references but as a guide to anyone wishing to obtain detailed information I may mention that it is obtainable in inter alia the Calendar of Documents, Ireland (1171-1307) the Justiciary Rolls (12951314), the Ormond Deeds Vols III- VI (1419-1603), Swayne's Register (1428-35), the Fiants (15411603), Chancery Rolls (1538- 1629) Wills-Prerogative, Diocesan and Genealogical Office (15971820), 56th and 57th Reports of the Deputy Keeper of Records (chiefly 18th century) etc. The name is of special interest on account of the prominence of three Irish Clintons in the history of the United States viz. Charles Clinton (1690-1773) born in Co. Longford and his two sons General James Clinton (1733-1812) and Governor George Clinton (1739-1812).

As Canon Leslie has pointed out, Charles Clinton, the father of James and George, was not the descendant of a Williamite settler, as has been alleged, but of the old Hiberno-Norman family of Dowdstown and Clintonstown, Co. Louth. The names of three Clintons, all of this family, appear in the lists of Jacobite outlawries. Twenty-two are mentioned in the Dowdall Deeds (c. 1250-1691) and many in other records dealing with Co. Louth and adjacent territory. Families of the name were also established in other parts of the country notably County Kilkenny. Clinton is the family name of the Duke of Newcastle: this family is English not Irish, but in 1878 a member of it was the owner of a property of 13,563 acres in Co. Cork.

— Supplement to Irish Families (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(Anglo-Scand.) Dweller at the Farm­stead by the Headland or Crag [v. under Clint, and + Middle English ton, Old Norse or Old English tún] Henry de Clinton (Yorks).—Hundred Rolls

— Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

Rare now, this name was prominent in mediaeval Irish records. The famous American Clintons were of Clintonstown Co. Louth. Bibl; MIF 266 n; SIF 35

— A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

“Clean Town” in Old English.

— South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

(English) Dweller at the hill enclosure.

— Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

The duke of Newcastle derives from Reinbaldus, who came hither at the Conquest, and assumed his surname from Glimpton, (anciently written Clinton) co. Oxford, part of the possessions granted to him for his services. Peerage. Some authorities make Reinbald a De Tancarville.

— Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

(Dano—Norman.) Local. Klint, a promontory, brow of a hill, cape; and ton, a town. Colonel Charles Clinton, the progenitor of the distinguished family of Clinton, and his associate emigrants from Ireland, settled, in 1722, in "Little Britain,"Orange County, New York.

— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857) by William Arthur

In 1086 Geoffry held Glinton, Northants, from Geoffry de Mowbray, Bishop of Coutances (Domesd.). Geoffry de Glinton or Clinton, his son, chamberlain to Henry I., gave the Church of Glinton, Northants,with others, to Kenilworth Priory 1120 (Mon. Angl. ii. 114). In t. Henry I., he, as Gaufrid de Dofera, was on an inquisition in Normandy (Mem. Soc. Ant. Norm.); and t. Henry II., before 1154, Gaufrid de Clinton, his son, acknowledged that he had pledged the estate of Dopra to the Bishop of Bayeux for 30 l. Anjou (Mem. Soc. Ant. Norm.). In 1165 this baron returned his fees in England as 17 (Liber Niger). This was a branch of the family of De Douvres or De Dover, which was of great baronial consequence. See Dovek. The Dukes of Newcastle descend from this Norman house of Clinton.

In the 14th and 15th centuries the Earls of Huntingdon, who bore the family name of Clinton, owned the manor of Linsey, Herts. In the reign of Henry VIII. John Clynton of Yardley held some land in that parish; and there was a Robert Clinton of Cottered, in the reign of James I. (Cus.).

What does the name Clinton mean?

Is the last name Clinton Irish?

Is Clinton a biblical name?

How rare is the name Clinton?