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

Clemons, 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 Clemons surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clemons in America

Clemons is the 1300th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clemons surname appeared 27,022 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Clemons.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clemons 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 Clemons

The surname Clemons is of English origin, traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "clement," meaning mild or merciful. This name was likely initially given as a nickname to someone with a gentle disposition.

In its earliest recorded form, the surname appeared as "Clements" in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was predominantly found in the counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.

Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, including Clemens, Clemence, and Clements, before settling into its modern form of Clemons. This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized English orthography.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was Sir John Clemons, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in Gloucestershire during the late 13th century. Another notable figure was William Clemons, a merchant from Bristol who played a crucial role in the city's thriving wool trade in the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name Clemons appeared in the historical records of the Oxfordshire town of Burford, where several families with the surname resided. One such family was the Clemons of Shilton, who owned substantial land holdings in the area.

During the 17th century, the Clemons name gained prominence with the birth of John Clemons (1617-1692), a renowned English clergyman and academic. He served as the Bishop of Llandaff and later became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

Another noteworthy individual was Sir William Clemons (1642-1711), a successful businessman and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1695. His legacy includes the establishment of the Clemons Charity, which provided financial assistance to underprivileged children in the city.

In the 18th century, the Clemons family produced several influential figures, including Robert Clemons (1727-1804), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench in Ireland.

As the surname spread across the British Isles and beyond, it continued to be associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military leaders.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clemons

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

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

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

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