Last name question for last name Clement?

Question

I know a guy that is really confused because he doesn't know where his last name comes from. His last name is Clement and to me it could either be English or French, but I am not sure. He really wants to know, because he is intrested in things like that. Peace out thanks.

Answer 1

Here are two explanations for the origin of the last name Clement.

Unfortunately, the only way to find the origin of his name is to trace his family lineage, it is not possible to arrive at a correct answer by making assumptions based on these.

Surname: Clement

This interesting surname, with over one hundred differing spellings ranging from Clemens, Clemons and Climance, to Clemitt, Klima, Klimkiewicz and Miettinen, derives from the Roman (Latin) "Clemens" meaning "merciful". An early saint who was a disciple of St. Paul bore the name, and it was selected by a number of early popes, no less than eleven Clements having been elected by the year 1046. Although predominently a male name, there is little doubt that many nameholders do originate from the female "Clementia" meaning mercy. Surnames from female names or specifically female landowners of the medieval period, are quite popular, and include forms of Mary, Joan, and Elizabeth. With this surname the earliest surviving records are in England, the first country in the world to adopt hereditary surnames. Examples include Clemens Monachus, Clememt the monk, in the 1152 register of St. Benet's abbey, at Holme, in the county of Norfolk, and Richard Clement, a Knight Templar, of Oxford in 1153. Other recordings include Richard Clemmence in the Hundred Rolls of the county of Huntingdonshire, and Robert Clymant in Sussex in 1327, whilst in Germany Leonard Klement was recorded in the charters of the city of Ulm in the year 1482. The first recorded spelling of the family name anywhere is believed to be that of William Clement, which was dated 1150, in the Knight Templar register of Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Henry 11nd of England. He was known as "The church builder", and reigned from 1154 to 1189.

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Clement: Last name origin & meaning:

English, French, and Dutch: from the Latin personal name Clemens meaning ‘merciful’ (genitive Clementis). This achieved popularity firstly through having been borne by an early saint who was a disciple of St. Paul, and later because it was selected as a symbolic name by a number of early popes. There has also been some confusion with the personal name Clemence (Latin Clementia, meaning ‘mercy’, an abstract noun derived from the adjective; in part a masculine name from Latin Clementius, a later derivative of Clemens). As an American family name, Clement has absorbed cognates in other continental European languages.

Answer 2

Clement/ Clements happens to be one of my own lines. What I am aware of is that it is found in early French records, AND early English records. Since many names PREDATE surviving records, there often is no defined way of saying which one is "first".  Ted's info is also good, as to different places that it is linked to. And, in several forms (none being wrong/right), you find it in really early America.

Something I am pretty outspoken about here, is recognition of the difference between surname etymology and genealogy.  Both involve surnames.. but there is a distinct fine line, when you get to working it. The etymology approach is where the name/word originated, while genealogy traces your personal ancestry.  The surname end (to me) is generic.  Tracing your actual lineage means a scientific approach, always always, start with YOU, working back a generation at a time, and using proof to insure accuracy.

Like Clement.. it is not provable that it is one or the other. Many persons believe otherwise.. thus, the name is <fill in the blank>, and the person assumes themself to be <fill in the blank>.  Without research, they then start looking in the assumed country for a connection, that often does not exist.  Or (this happens a lot), someone starts working back, and finds an unknown adoption, so their heritage is something completely different, from what they had assumed, based on the last name.

For your friend.. or anyone.. the reliable approach is to not try and take the shortcut of "jumping" from today, back to an alleged origin. Work back with the actual ancestors.. find the immigrant, then determine his place of origin.

I know there are many groups or hard core researchers, working with the name but still using traceable records and lines.  I'd be happy to send links if he likes.  

Answer 3

Clement Name Meaning and History

English, French, and Dutch: from the Latin personal name Clemens meaning ‘merciful’ (genitive Clementis). This achieved popularity firstly through having been borne by an early saint who was a disciple of St. Paul, and later because it was selected as a symbolic name by a number of early popes. There has also been some confusion with the personal name Clemence (Latin Clementia, meaning ‘mercy’, an abstract noun derived from the adjective; in part a masculine name from Latin Clementius, a later derivative of Clemens). As an American family name, Clement has absorbed cognates in other continental European languages. (For forms, see Hanks and Hodges 1988.)

Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press,

Answer 4

The name can be found here in Perthshire Scotland from the 13th century . Name seems to have derived from Latin  meaning humane or merciful . The third Pope after St Peter was Clement .  Various Clement or Clements feature in the Commissariot Records of Dunblane Perthshire . According to Black ( Scottish Surnames ) William Clement had remission for his part in the burning of Dunbarton , James Clement was shot for being a Covenanter and  a Helen Clement is  recorded  in Muckart near Stirling in 1742.