12,065 Global CLAWSON Family Members

CLAWSON Family History

This is an English post medieval patronymic surname, but of German origins. It derives from the ancient Greek name 'Nicholas' meaning 'victory-people', the source of more surnames than any other baptismal or personal name. Over five hundred forms have been identified covering every European language and country. In this case the surname is a derivation of Klaus or Claus, as in the celebrated 8th century a.d. Santa Claus. Although "Nicholaus" is recorded as a personal name in the famous English Domesday Book of 1086, the name was rarely recorded as either a personal name and a surname until after the 12th century crusades to the Holy Land, when it became popular for returning "pilgrims" to call their children after Christian saints and martyrs.