Claxton
From an English place name meaning "settlement by the clayey stone."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,718 Americans carry the last name Claxton. That puts it at #5,949 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.96 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 51,020 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Claxton 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
6.7K
1 in 51,020
Census rank
#5,949
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,786 bearers of the surname Claxton in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.96 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5949th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Claxton, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.4%. The next largest groups are Black (22.1%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Claxton
Among Census respondents with the surname Claxton, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.4%. The next largest groups are Black (22.1%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Claxton 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 Claxton surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White71.4%
- Black or African American22.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.8%
- Two or more races2.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Claxton 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 | #6,187 | #5,949 | 3.8% |
| Count | 5,096 | 5,786 | 13.5% |
| Per 100K | 1.89 | 1.96 | 3.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Claxton bearers went from 5,096 to 5,786 (+13.5% change). The surname moved up 238 positions in the national ranking, going from #6,187 to #5,949.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Claxton
FAQ
Claxton surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Claxton?
The surname Claxton holds position #5,949 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,718 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.96 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Claxton surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Claxton, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.4%. The next largest groups are Black (22.1%) and Hispanic (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.