Clanton Surname and Variants

Meaning
English: probably a variant spelling of the habitational name Clandon, from places in Surrey and Dorset named Clandon, from Old English cl?ne ‘clean’ (i.e. ‘clear of weeds’) + dun ‘hill’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4

Origin
Clanton is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from MacLennan as an alternative variant. The surname Clanton was primarily based in the Scottish Gaelic of MacGilleFhinnein. The translation of this Gaelic surname meant servant of Finnan who became revered as a saint.

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Clanton has been recorded under many different variations, including Clendon, Clendin, Clandon, Clanton, Clenton and others.

First found in Somerset where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Clanton or a variant listed above: John Clanton who settled in Virginia in 1635; James Clenton arrived in New York State in 1803; W. S. Clendin arrived in San Francisco in 1852. Source: House of Names