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

Clemmons, 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 Clemmons surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clemmons in America

Clemmons is the 4484th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clemmons surname appeared 7,914 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Clemmons.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clemmons 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 Clemmons

The surname Clemmons is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the county of Sussex in the south of England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "clam," meaning a small valley or ravine, and the suffix "-tun," meaning a farm or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Clemmund in the village of Climping, which later evolved into the modern surname Clemmons.

In the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Clemmens" or "Clemens," reflecting the phonetic variations common in those times. Records from this era show individuals bearing the name residing in various parts of Sussex, as well as in neighboring counties such as Kent and Surrey.

During the late medieval period, the surname Clemmons began to appear in official records and documents across England. One notable figure was Sir John Clemmons, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived from 1450 to 1524.

Another prominent individual was Robert Clemmons, a scholar and theologian born in 1540 in Chichester, Sussex. He was educated at Oxford University and later became the Dean of Lincoln Cathedral, making significant contributions to the religious discourse of his time.

In the 17th century, the Clemmons family established itself as landowners and gentry in various parts of England. William Clemmons (1612-1689), a wealthy landowner from Surrey, was knighted by King Charles II for his loyal service during the English Civil War.

As the British Empire expanded, members of the Clemmons family ventured to the American colonies. One such figure was James Clemmons (1724-1798), who settled in Virginia and became a prosperous tobacco planter and landowner.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Clemmons has been associated with various professions, from academics and clergymen to merchants and landowners. While the spelling has evolved over time, the name continues to reflect its English origins and the historical significance of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clemmons

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

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

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

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