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

Clendenin, 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 Clendenin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clendenin in America

Clendenin is the 13203rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clendenin surname appeared 2,315 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 Clendenin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clendenin 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 Clendenin

The surname Clendenin is of Scottish origin, traced back to the 14th century. It is a locational name derived from the lands of Clendenning, located near the village of Troqueer in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic words "Cluain" meaning "meadow" and "Deanuinn" meaning "defence or fortification."

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to 1329, when a Robert de Clendonyn was mentioned in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls. In the 15th century, the name appeared in the records of the Diocese of Glasgow as "Clendenning." The Clendenins were a notable family in Galloway, Scotland, and their ancestral lands were located in Troqueer Parish.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Clendenin, who was born in Scotland around 1640. He immigrated to Ulster, Ireland, in the late 17th century and settled in County Antrim. His descendants later migrated to America in the early 18th century, establishing themselves in various colonies, including Pennsylvania and Virginia.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Archibald Clendenin (1733-1799) played a significant role in the early settlement of West Virginia. He served as a surveyor and land agent and was instrumental in the founding of Charleston, the state's capital city. Archibald's brother, Robert Clendenin (1736-1816), was also a prominent figure in the region and served as a militia officer during the American Revolutionary War.

Another notable bearer of the name was Charles John Clendenin (1802-1862), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the early 19th century. He was involved in several naval engagements, including the Battle of Navarino in 1827.

In the literary world, Jane Clendenin (1881-1974) was an American author and poet known for her works on nature and spirituality. She published several books, including "The Tropic Garden" and "The Mysteries of the Renaissance."

The surname Clendenin has also been associated with various place names, such as Clendenin, West Virginia, a town named after Archibald Clendenin, and Clendenin Creek, a tributary of the Kanawha River in the same state.

While the surname Clendenin is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clendenin

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

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

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

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