Clinton (English)
Where does "Clinton" come from?
The name Clinton originated as an English habitational surname derived from places like Glinton or Glympton. These place names trace back to the Old English word 'tun,' meaning an enclosure or town, which itself descends from a Proto-Germanic term for a fence. Over time, the surname became widespread, eventually evolving into a popular given name and a common name for numerous locations across the English-speaking world.
Full etymology tree
- Clinton (English), 'A surname.'
- suffix -ton (Middle English)
- inherited tūn (Old English), 'an enclosed piece of ground, an enclosure or garden'
- inherited *tūn (Proto-West Germanic), 'fence'
- inherited *tūną (Proto-Germanic), 'fence'
- borrowed *dūnom (Proto-Celtic), 'stronghold, rampart'
- inherited *duh₂-nós (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived *dewh₂- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to fit'
- inherited *dʰuHno- (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *duh₂-nós (Proto-Indo-European)
- borrowed *dūnom (Proto-Celtic), 'stronghold, rampart'
- inherited *tūną (Proto-Germanic), 'fence'
- inherited *tūn (Proto-West Germanic), 'fence'
- inherited tūn (Old English), 'an enclosed piece of ground, an enclosure or garden'
- suffix -ton (Middle English)
Direct ancestors
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris