Surname Clayes - Meaning and Origin

Clayes: What does the surname Clayes mean?

The last name Clayes is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word ‘claeg’ meaning ‘clay.’ It is an occupational surname, assigned to people who worked in the commerce and transport of clay. Historically, individuals with the last name Clayes would have been involved in clay processing, including operations such as quarrying, extraction, transportation and trading of clay products.

Clay, in itself, was of obvious importance and had a wide range of uses; from pottery production to soil remediation, building construction and ceremonial customs. As such it made sense for the last name to become associated with the activity and skill set necessary to process the raw clay.

The Commercial Revolution of the 1600s brought new opportunities for people with the last name Clayes, who would go on to become prominent figures in the trading and manufacturing of clay-based products. By the 1800s, the majority of people bearing the last name had moved away from the original, occupational-based designs and into more general trading pursuits. Today, the last name Clayes is spread across a wide variety of countries, with owners of the name found in America, South Africa, Australia, and the UK.

Clayes: Where does the name Clayes come from?

The surname Clayes is of German origin and is found most frequently in the United States and Canada. It is most common in the North American states of Pennsylvania, New York, California, Texas, Ohio and Illinois.

However, the name is also found in parts of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The origin of the surname Clayes probably comes from the German and Dutch word "clay", which would indicate someone who lived near or worked in a clay-rich area. The name was also used among certain Protestant immigrants in the United States and Canada during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The surname Clayes is recorded in many public records and documents in Europe and North America. These include passenger lists, birth, marriage, and death records. Some of these records go as far back as the mid-17th century.

Today, the Clayes surname is common mainly in America, Canada, England and Scotland. It is also relatively common in some parts of Europe such as Austria, Switzerland, and Germany.

The distribution of the Clayes name has shifted over the centuries, but it is still found in many places around the world.

Variations of the surname Clayes

Clayes is an English surname originating in the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English personal name Cl[ae]g, which is derived from the words 'loud' and 'famous'. It is either a patronymic, meaning "son of Cl[ae]g", or a nickname associated with a brave-hearted person.

Variants of the surname include Cley, Clagh, Clogh, Claughe, Clough, Claes, Klaes, Claesen, Klaessen, Claessen, Claessens, Cloys, and Cloyce.

Clayes can also be found spelled as Cleye, Cleche, Cleik, Cliek, Clae, Cleyes, Claeys, Cleig, Clanys, Cleays, Cleaysse, Claeysen, Clace, Clinse, Cloyce, and Clans.

Surnames that are derivatives or pet forms of Clayes include Clayton, Cleeton, and Claghorn. It is also possible that names such as Claydon, Clayborn, Claymaker, and Clayburn are derived from Clayes.

Overall, Clayes is a surname with a number of variants, spellings, and derivatives. Each of these can have a unique history and backstory and can be traced back to the same Old English personal name.

Famous people with the name Clayes

• Jessie Clayes: Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Founder of the ready-to-wear line Thursday Sunday
• Rex Clayes: British actor, best known for his role in the 2008 movie The Other Man
• Pat Clayes: World-renowned jazz trumpeter and composer
• Austin Clayes: Award-winning American songwriter and producer
• Hunter Clayes: Professional WRX driver and manufacturer of precision suspension components
• Dameon Clayes: American basketball player, team captain at Duke University
• Jemaine Clayes: Award-winning X factor Season 7 runner-up
• John Clayes: English classical musician and conductor
• Chris Clayes: American country singer and songwriter
• Karen Clayes: Emmy-winning television producer and director, known for her work on Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons

Other surnames

Claye