Surname Clowes - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Clowes: What does the surname Clowes mean?
The surname Clowes is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Middle English term "clow", meaning a nail or a pin. It is likely an occupational name, which was typically given to individuals based on their profession. So, a person bearing the surname 'Clowes' may have been associated with making or selling nails or pins in the medieval period. The 's' at the end could indicate possession, implying that the bearer of the name was someone who owned or manufactured such items. Variants of the surname include Clow, Clowe, Clough, and Cluse, among others. Notable people with this surname include Daniel Clowes, an American cartoonist, and Geoff Clowes, an English footballer. As with many surnames, the migrations and transformations of language over time mean that the surname may have developed different meanings or associations in different regions and families.
Order DNA origin analysisClowes: Where does the name Clowes come from?
The surname Clowes originates from England. It is derived from a Middle English personal name, "Clou", sometimes linked with "Nicolaus" or Nicholas. It was first recorded in the latter part of the 13th century in the County of Shropshire. This county, along with Staffordshire and especially Cheshire, had families bearing the Clowes name in the early years.
The name was often written in the Latin form "Clodes" or "Clodus". It might also have been a locational name from a place called "Clows" or for someone living near a barrier or closed gate, from the Middle English term "clos". The surname spread through migration, and today there are Clowes families living all around the world.
The largest population of Clowes families in the 19th century was still in the UK; more specifically, Staffordshire had the highest population of Clowes families. In the 1840s, Clowes families also began migrating to the U.S, particularly New York. In 1880, Farmer was the most common occupation for the Clowes family in the U.S.
Today, the name is most common in England and the United States, but can also be found in Canada and Australia.
Variations of the surname Clowes
The surname Clowes has a few variants and alternate spellings which are primarily due to the regional dialects and transcription errors over the years. This surname is believed to be of English origin and its primary alternate spellings include Cloews, Cloes, and Clowse.
There are other surnames that may be related as they share similar origins or meanings. These include Clow, Clough, which is common in Northern England, and Cloy which all have a similar meaning relating to a hill or a hillock. Surnames such as Cluse, Clow, and Clowe could also be linked to Clowes due to phonetic similarities.
Furthermore, surnames like Clove, Clow, Clothes and Claws could be potential variations arising from the impact of local dialects and accents over time. These surnames often relate to an initial topographic or occupational origin.
It is important to note, however, that tracking the exact origin and variants of a surname can be challenging due to the fluid nature of language and the numerous influences throughout history.
Famous people with the name Clowes
- Dan Clowes: American cartoonist and author of graphic novels and comic books such as Ghost World and Eightball.
- Edward Augustus Clowes: British navy man and recipient of the Victoria Cross.
- John Clowes: English divine and principal of Brasenose College, Oxford.
- William Clowes: English book-binder, publisher and bookseller of the 19th century.
- Samuel Clowes: English printer during the 18th century.
- Kate Clowes: Australian singer and songwriter.
- Bryan Clowes: American author, editor and graphic novel writer, best known for his work on the pages of DC Comics.
- Charles Clowes: British agricultural chemist who was involved in inventing artificial fertilisers.
- Stephen Clowes: English organist and composer.
- David Clowes: American comic book artist and penciller, best known for his collaboration with writer Harvey Pekar on the cult comic book series American Splendor.