Find out how popular the last name Claxton is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Claxton.

Claxton, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Claxton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Claxton in America

Claxton is the 5949th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Claxton surname appeared 5,786 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Claxton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Claxton to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Claxton

The surname Claxton originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Claxton, which is found in various counties across England, including Norfolk, Leicestershire, and Yorkshire. The name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "clā" meaning clay or mud, and "tūn" meaning a farm or settlement, indicating a clay farm or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Claxton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Clachestuna in Norfolk. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the medieval period, the Claxton family held significant landholdings and positions of prominence. In 1284, Robert de Claxton was mentioned as a knight in Yorkshire, while in 1379, John de Claxton was recorded as the Rector of Claxton in Norfolk.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Claxton throughout history. Sir William de Claxton (c. 1370 - c. 1440) was a prominent English knight who served under King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War. He fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

Another prominent figure was Robert Claxton (1498 - 1557), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the Protestant Reformation for refusing to renounce his faith. He is recognized as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales by the Catholic Church.

In the 17th century, John Claxton (1615 - 1692) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and later as the Bishop of St. Davids. He played a significant role in the intellectual and religious life of his time.

William Claxton (1776 - 1857) was a notable English landscape painter and engraver, known for his picturesque scenes of the English countryside. His works were highly regarded during the Romantic period and are now part of various art collections.

Thomas Claxton (1809 - 1879) was a British landscape painter and etcher, celebrated for his detailed and realistic depictions of rural landscapes and architectural subjects. His etchings were particularly acclaimed and are considered among the finest works of their kind from the Victorian era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Claxton

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Claxton.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Claxton was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Claxton has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Claxton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Claxton, please contact us.

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