The name Clinton is an English given name derived from the Old English words "clyne" meaning valley and "tun" meaning town or settlement. It originated as a place name referring to a town situated in a valley.

Clinton can be traced back to the 11th century in England, where it was first recorded as a surname in the Domesday Book of 1086. The earliest known use of Clinton as a first name dates back to the 13th century.

In medieval times, the name Clinton was associated with nobility and landed gentry, as it was often borne by members of the aristocratic Clinton family who held lands and titles in various parts of England, particularly in Warwickshire and Lincolnshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Clinton was Geoffrey de Clinton, who was born around 1050 and served as Lord Chancellor of England and Lord Chamberlain to King Henry I in the 12th century.

Over the centuries, several notable figures have borne the name Clinton, including:

1. Sir Henry Clinton (1738-1795), a British army officer who served as Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the American Revolutionary War.

2. DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828), an American politician and naturalist who served as the 6th Governor of New York and was a driving force behind the construction of the Erie Canal.

3. Sir Henry Clinton (1781-1829), a British military officer and colonial administrator who served as Governor of Gibraltar and Madras Presidency in India.

4. Henry Pelham Clinton (1785-1851), a British politician and writer who served as Secretary of State for the Colonies.

5. Clinton Roosevelt (1804-1898), an American writer and educator who was a distant relative of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

While the name Clinton has its roots in England, it has been adopted and used in various other parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with historical ties to Britain.