Clavell
An occupational surname referring to someone who made clavels or keys.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Clavell. That puts it at #43,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Clavell surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#43,511
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
496
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 496 bearers of the surname Clavell in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 43511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Clavell, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 66.1%. The next largest groups are White (28.2%) and Black (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Clavell
The surname Clavell is derived from the Latin word 'clavis' meaning 'key'. It is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages.
The name first appeared in English records in the early 12th century, referring to individuals who held the position of a clerk or keeper of keys. In those times, clerks and key keepers played an important role in religious institutions and castles.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Radulfus Clavellus, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1166. Another early reference can be found in the Cartulary of St. Frideswide's Priory in Oxford, where a Richard Clavell was listed as a witness in 1192.
The surname Clavell is closely associated with the county of Dorset in England. The Clavells were an influential family in the area and owned several manors and estates, including Smedmore and Barneston. Sir William Clavell (1497-1554) was a notable member of the family and served as a Member of Parliament for Dorset.
Another prominent figure with this surname was Roger Clavell (1564-1645), an English soldier and adventurer who served under Sir Walter Raleigh in the early expeditions to the Americas. He is credited with establishing the first English settlement on the island of Newfoundland in 1610.
In the 17th century, John Clavell (1601-1643) was a renowned English dramatist and poet. He is best known for his work 'The Soddered Citizen', which satirized the social and political climate of the time.
During the English Civil War, Colonel Robert Clavell (1617-1661) was a prominent Royalist commander who fought for King Charles I. He was captured at the Battle of Worcester in 1651 and later executed.
Another notable figure was Aphra Behn (1640-1689), an English playwright and novelist who was one of the first professional female writers in Britain. Her maiden name was Aphra Clavell, and she was likely related to the Dorset family.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Clavell
Among Census respondents with the surname Clavell, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 66.1%. The next largest groups are White (28.2%) and Black (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Clavell bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Clavell surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino66.1%
- White28.2%
- Black or African American2.8%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Clavell surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #51,809 | #43,511 | 16.0% |
| Count | 377 | 496 | 31.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.14 | 0.17 | 21.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Clavell bearers went from 377 to 496 (+31.6% change). The surname moved up 8,298 positions in the national ranking, going from #51,809 to #43,511.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Clavell
FAQ
Clavell surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Clavell?
The surname Clavell holds position #43,511 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Clavell surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Clavell, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 66.1%. The next largest groups are White (28.2%) and Black (2.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.