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

Clayborne, 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 Clayborne surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clayborne in America

Clayborne is the 15391st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clayborne surname appeared 1,905 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Clayborne.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clayborne 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 Clayborne

The surname Clayborne is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "claeg" meaning clay or clayey soil, and "burna" meaning a small stream or brook, suggesting that the earliest bearers of the name lived near a clay-lined stream.

The name first appeared in historical records in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Claggeburne." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, served as a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property ownership across England and parts of Wales.

During the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Cleyborne, Claiborne, and Claybourne, reflecting the variations in regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sir Reginald Clayborne, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. He was granted lands in Gloucestershire and his descendants continued to hold prominent positions in the region.

In the 13th century, a prominent member of the Clayborne family was Sir John Clayborne (c.1230-1298), who served as a trusted advisor to King Edward I and played a significant role in the conquest of Wales.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Clayborne (1564-1621), an English colonist and explorer who was instrumental in the establishment of the Virginia Colony in the early 17th century. He served as a member of the governing council and played a crucial role in negotiating with the Native American tribes in the region.

In the 17th century, the Clayborne family established themselves in the American colonies, with William Clayborne (1608-1677) becoming a prominent landowner and politician in the Maryland and Virginia colonies. He was involved in a long-standing dispute over the control of the Isle of Kent, leading to armed conflict with the proprietary government of Maryland.

During the English Civil War, several members of the Clayborne family supported the Parliamentarian cause, including Colonel John Clayborne (1625-1687), who served as a cavalry officer under Oliver Cromwell's command.

Throughout its history, the Clayborne surname has been associated with various place names, including Clayborne Court in Gloucestershire, Clayborne Manor in Oxfordshire, and Clayborne Hall in Wiltshire, reflecting the family's landholdings and influence in different regions of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clayborne

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

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 Clayborne 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 Clayborne 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 Clayborne was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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