Surname Clendining - Meaning and Origin
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Clendining: What does the surname Clendining mean?
The surname Clendining is of Scottish origin, believed to be derived from a place name. Specifically, it is thought to come from the lands of Clendinning in the Parish of Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The composition of the name is from the Gaelic words ‘cluin’ meaning a meadow or pasture, and ‘duinne’ meaning a hill or mound. Therefore, the surname Clendining can roughly be interpreted as 'from the hill with the meadow' or 'from the meadowed hill'. Like many other surnames derived from geographical locations, it was likely initially given to individuals or families residing in or near this area. Over time and generations, it would have become a hereditary surname passed down from parents to their offspring. Thus, individuals with the last name Clendining can potentially trace their ancestors back to this specific region of Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisClendining: Where does the name Clendining come from?
The surname Clendining is believed to have originated from Scotland. The earliest records of this family name suggest it is derived from a place called Glendonwyn or Glendinning in the Scottish Borders. The name itself likely means "valley of the fair hill," from the Celtic "glenn," meaning valley, "dun," meaning hill or fort, and the old personal name "Dyfnwal," meaning fair.
Today, the surname Clendining is most common in Scotland, particularly in the regions from where it originally hails. However, the name can also be found in various areas across the world due to historical Scottish migration patterns. Clendining is not a particularly common surname anywhere, but records suggest it has spread to countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand due to the Scottish diaspora. Therefore, it’s likely that individuals bearing the Clendining surname outside Scotland are of Scottish descent.
Variations of the surname Clendining
The surname Clendining has Scottish origins and appears with several different spellings. Variations include Clendenning, Clendening, Clendennan, Clendennin, Clendennon, Clendinnen, and Clendenin. Despite the deviations in spelling, they all possibly stem from the Celtic words "glan", which means clean, or "glenn", which means valley, and "dineen" meaning little fortress. It might also be derived from the Gaelic ‘Mac Gille Fhinnein,’ meaning ‘the son of the follower of St. Finnan.’
Scottish clans often featured numerous spellings of the same last name due to the phonetic interpretation of scribes taking Census data in the past. It's also possible for the name to be altered based on the region of Scotland where individuals lived, leading to different pronunciation and therefore variation in spelling. The derivation of surnames in the Western world was often influenced by an individual's occupation, location, or even personal characteristics. Therefore, even though these versions seem different, they share the same origin.
Generally, in the process of Anglicization, names were made to sound more English, which may also account for the variation in the spelling of Clendining.
Famous people with the name Clendining
- Christopher Clendining: an American orthopedic surgeon and researcher.
- Carrie Clendining: a professional ballroom dancer from the US.
- Beth Cassandra Clendining: an Australian singer and actress.
- Brian Clendining: a Canadian mathematician, computer scientist, and entrepreneur.
- Robert Clendining: an American actor best known for his work in feature films such as Knowing and The Other Guys.
- Alexander Clendining: an American impressionist painter.
- John Clendining: an American illustrator, fine artist and storyboard artist.
- Dana Clendining: an American hypnotherapist, speaker, and author.
- Jeff Clendining: A Canadian architect, artist, and urban planner.
- Alyssa Clendining: an American fashion designer.