Fun Facts About the Name Clarkson
- 155 babies named Clarkson: U.S. records list 155 babies given the name Clarkson from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Clarkson Mean?
Clarkson is an English patronymic name meaning "son of Clark." Its base is the Middle English personal name and byname Clark, which comes from Old French clerc and Latin clericus, meaning "clerk," "scribe," or "scholar." In medieval use, a clerk was typically a man in minor religious orders or someone who could read and write, so the word referred to literacy and church service rather than the modern English sense of a shop assistant. Latin clericus came from Greek klērikos, an adjective for clergy, itself from klēros, "lot" or "inheritance."
The second element is the common English patronymic suffix -son, from Old English sunu, "son." The name therefore belongs to the large group of English surnames that originally identified a man by his father's name or byname. The spelling with k reflects Middle English clerk and clark, which existed side by side.
Clarkson Name History & Origins
Clarkson began as a surname, not as a traditional given name. It was formed in medieval England from the personal name or byname Clark plus -son. The earliest bearers would have been identified as the son of a man called Clark; over time the description became a fixed family name passed from one generation to the next. Patronymic surnames of this type became hereditary in England during the later Middle Ages, and Clarkson belongs with names such as Johnson, Richardson, and Williamson.
The spelling Clarkson reflects the Middle English clark form; Clarke and Clerk are related spellings of the base name. As a first name, Clarkson is a transferred surname used in modern English-speaking countries. Thomas Clarkson, the English abolitionist, is a notable historical bearer of the surname, but the given name's use is a separate development from that or any other individual.
How Popular is the Name Clarkson?
Clarkson has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2019. Its best rank was #3,187 in 1953.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,404 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #11,156 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #12,567 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #7,356 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #9,919 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #8,883 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #5,605 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #7,675 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #9,010 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #12,488 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #3,260 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #3,187 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #3,370 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1940 | #3,539 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1938 | #3,610 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1935 | #3,740 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1926 | #3,782 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #3,960 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #4,449 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #3,906 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1919 | #3,811 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #4,018 | 5 | 0.0006% |
| 1915 | #3,927 | 5 | 0.0006% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Clarkson Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Clarkson's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Clarkson's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.