Surname Clason - Meaning and Origin
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Clason: What does the surname Clason mean?
The surname Clason is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "MacGille Fhaolain" which translates to "son of the servant of St Fillan." St Fillan was a revered figure in Scotland, known for his healing powers and his contributions to the propagation of Christianity during the 8th century. As such, a servant of St Fillan would be someone who followed St Fillan’s teachings and honored his works, so the name might have originally been used to denote such persons. Over time, the name underwent many phonetic changes and condensed to form the much shorter "Clason." Like many surnames, it started being used to identify individuals and families. Sometimes the spelling variations like Clawson, Clauson, or Glason are seen. It's important to note that the meaning and origin of surnames can often be speculative due to the fluid nature of language and evolution of dialects. Thus, while the above interpretation is widely accepted, there might be alternative origins and meanings for the surname Clason.
Order DNA origin analysisClason: Where does the name Clason come from?
The surname Clason is of Scottish origin, derived from the personal name Claus or Clause, which are short forms of Nicholas. It is considered patronymic as the final "son" suggests "son of Claus."
Though it originated in Scotland, the Clason surname distribution map indicates it's not very common there today but is more prevalent in the United States, particularly in the states of Minnesota and Nebraska. It is also found in Sweden, most likely brought there from Scottish immigrants or through the extensive trade and military connections between Scotland and Scandinavia in the past.
The surname Clason is quite rare, ranking at 109,365 globally, with the majority of individuals with this surname residing in the United States. Please note that different sources may give variations of the ancestral origin and distribution details.
Variations of the surname Clason
The surname Clason originates from the several place names in England such as Clawton in Devon, Cloughton in North Yorkshire, and Clopton in Northampton. The etymology of the name is likely derived from the Old English words 'clawu' meaning a claw or a clove, and 'ton' referring to an enclosure or a settlement.
Variations of the surname Clason can include various spellings such as: Clawsone, Clawson, Closson, Clauson, Clasone, Clasonne, Clasen, Claseon, Claeson, Clasun, and others.
In some cases, von Clason, or simply Clas, may have been used in German-speaking regions. Some family branches adopted the surname McClaskey in Ireland, which is likely a Gaelic version of Clason.
Surnames are subjected to numerous modifications over time due to factors such as regional dialects, illiteracy, and cultural adaptation. Therefore, the surname can have several variations without any significant changes in its origin or lineage. These changes make genealogical research challenging yet interesting.
Remember, the spelling of the surname may change over generations and regions but often share the same origin. Hence, if you are researching family history, don’t forget to consider various spellings.
Famous people with the name Clason
- George S. Clason: He was an American author and businessman known for writing a series of pamphlets about financial success. His most famous work is "The Richest Man in Babylon,” which teaches financial prosperity through a collection of parables set in ancient Babylon.
- Jon Clason: A contemporary artist and illustrator known for his work in children's literature and graphic design.
- Aaron Clason: An American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1815 to 1817.
- Sewel Avery Clason: Known professionally as S. Avery Clason, he was an American lawyer and politician from New York.
- Bud Clason: Real name Frederick Clason, was an American actor who appeared in over 200 films during the 1930s and 1940s.
- Michael Clason: A current Member of the German parliament from Hamburg and the Left Party. Apart from these, there are potentially several other individuals with the surname Clason who have gained fame in their respective fields like business, politics, arts, etc. However, detailed information about them isn't widely available.