Surname Clawes - Meaning and Origin
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Clawes: What does the surname Clawes mean?
The last name Clawes is an English or Irish surname derived from the Old Norse term “Klaugr” which refers to an individual with a claw or talon like appendage on their foot or hand. As a result, Clawes likely originally referred to someone who was able to climb trees with great agility and capability.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Clawes has been used to describe individuals who had the unique ability to climb trees or scale structures with particular ease. In England, the Clawes lineage has been associated with tree surgeons, arborists, foresters, miners, or anyone else who needed to be able to climb with skill and strength. It can also be found in records of miners, loggers, and other workers in the mining and lumber industries.
Various spellings of the Clawes surname can be found in English records, such as Claws, Clawsie, Clouse, Klos, Kloos, Kluce, Klaufs, Clow, and Kloss. The surname Clawes is not uncommon in England and Ireland and is sometimes seen in the United States among immigrants from these countries.
The Clawes lineage has been associated with individuals who have great physical strength and dexterity, capable of scaling great heights, and a certain level of technical skill in manipulating their environment. It is a proud name, symbolizing a unique line of hardy individuals with remarkable skills and capabilities.
Order DNA origin analysisClawes: Where does the name Clawes come from?
The surname Clawes is not a particularly common name today. In the United States it is most prevalent in Oregon and Washington, with significantly fewer numbers in Michigan, California, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
In the United Kingdom, the Clawes surname is most heavily concentrated in the North West region, including Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire. It can also be found in the North East, London, and East Anglia in slightly lesser numbers.
In Canada, Clawes is rare, but there is a small population in Southern Ontario, near Toronto.
In Australia, Clawes is a rare surname but there there are a few occurrences in Western Australia.
The surname Clawes is also present in South Africa, however, there is no particular region or area where it is more heavily concentrated.
For those searching historical records, the best place to start is the United Kingdom, as this is the ancestral homeland of the Clawes surname. Records dating back to the 16th century can be found in Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Yorkshire.
Although the Clawes surname is not particularly common today, there are pockets of individuals and families worldwide who bear the surname.
Variations of the surname Clawes
The surname Clawes is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derived from a locational name for someone who resided near cliffs, or was a dweller by the cliffs. Variants, spellings and surnames with the same origin include:
Clawson – This spelling variation of Clawes was used in Scotland, firstly by the Clan McFlaws who are said to have descended from an illegitimate son of a Clan Donald chief.
Clauson – This spelling variation was mainly found in Northumberland, England, where the family was recorded as having held estates there since the 16th century.
Claus – This is a patronymic surname variant of Clawes, meaning “son of Claus”.
Clause – This variant is sometimes seen as a combination of the variant Claws and the French suffix for son, -eau and was mostly found in Northern France.
Claws – This variant was particularly found in Lancashire, England and is a diminutive form of Claus.
Clauss – Another short form of the surname, this variant is popular in Southwestern Germany.
Clausen – This variant is recorded in both Friesland and Germany.
Claw – A variant found in Scotland.
Clowe – This variant is recorded in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Clowes – Found in Lancashire, this spelling variation of the surname can be found as either a personal name or locational name.
Cloves – This variant was found in Northamptonshire, England.
Cloyce – This variant of Clawes is recorded widely in Scotland and probably indicated a Gaelic ancestry.
Klaws – A rare spelling variant, recorded in Austria.
Overall, the surname Clawes has a wide range of spelling variations that are all derived from the same origin of the Anglo-Saxon word meaning locational name for someone who lived near cliffs.
Famous people with the name Clawes
- Kohl Clawes, an American professional footballer.
- Malcolm Clawes, an Australian professional rugby league player.
- Phil Clawes, an English international cricketer.
- Tom Clawes, an English actor and model.
- Norman Clawes, an American stage and film actor.
- Rocky Clawes, an American singer-songwriter.
- Partick Clawes, an Australian professional rugby league player.
- Nathan Clawes, an American Army veterans and public speaker.
- Neil Clawes, an American record producer.
- William Clawes, an English Olympic swimmer.
- Darius Clawes, an English actor and model.
- Hannah Clawes, an American fashion designer.
- Lyndon Clawes, an American professional basketball player.
- Jim Clawes, a former American ice hockey goaltender.
- Chris Clawes, an English professional dancer and choreographer.
- Sam Clawes, an American professional baseball player.
- Tracy Clawes, an American illustrator and graphic designer.
- Jonathan Clawes, an American contemporary visual artist.
- Rob Clawes, an American videographer and motion graphics designer.
- Joseph Clawes, an American professional snowboarder.