CLINT
Clint is a surname of both English and Norse origin, situated within the linguistic heritage of the British Isles. The name is traditionally associated with the Old English term clint, denoting a rocky hill or slope, and also with the Old Norse term klint, meaning a cliff or steep slope. Its primary classification is topographic, signifying a person who lived near or upon such a geographical feature.
The etymological roots of Clint trace back to the Anglo‑Saxon period, when it was employed as a locational identifier for inhabitants of elevated terrain. In this context, the name could refer to a dweller of an upland farm, an owner of hillside land or a labourer working the inclines of a hilly region. The original Old English word clint and its Norse counterpart klint both convey the sense of a stark, stone‑covered slope, and the surname reflects this environmental connection.
Historical records locate the surname in the village of Clint, situated near Harrogate in North Yorkshire. The village itself is recorded first in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire for the year 1230, during the reign of Henry III, where it appears as Clint. Subsequent documents show orthographic variations: Clynt in 150 years later, and Clente in 1632 within London. The earliest documented family spelling is that of Cecillia de Clynt, dated 1379 on the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls during the reign of King Richard II.
Variants of the surname include Clinte, Clintz, Clynt, Clintt and others, all derived from the same Old English root. Related surnames in Gaelic and Irish contexts, such as MacGillintray, MacGillintre, McGillichan, McGlinty, O'Glinty, Glintan, Glinton, Glintene and Glintoune, share a comparable meaning tied to stone‑covered or rocky landscapes.
In contemporary populations, the surname Clint maintains a presence across the United Kingdom and in various English‑speaking countries worldwide. Within the United States, the name ranked 1073rd in frequency in the 2020 Census, with 44,126 occurrences. It shows particular concentration in southern states such as Texas (117th), Louisiana (398th), Arkansas (354th) and Mississippi (573rd). California also records a higher-than-average prevalence, placing the name at 1608th. In contrast, northeastern states such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island exhibit lower frequencies, indicative of regional differences within the United States. South Africa cites the surname as the 119th most common. In Australia, it holds the 410th position, while in Canada it appears at 752nd. In the United Kingdom, the spelling is occasionally rendered as Clinton in official registries.
The surname has occasionally intersected with popular culture, most notably through the association with the American actor Clint Eastwood, whose prominence in film during the late twentieth century contributed to the name’s visibility. While the surname remains primarily a locational identifier, its appearance as both a first and a middle name in contemporary contexts reflects its versatility and broad appeal.
Typical given names associated with the Clint surname
Male
- Andrew
- Daniel
- David
- Derek
- James
- John
- Joseph
- Peter
- Philip
- Robert
- Royce
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Alison
- Audrey
- Carol
- Debra
- Emma
- Jeanette
- Julie
- Katherine
- Lorraine
- Margaret
- Pauline
- Rachel
- Sandra
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
- Client
- Cline
- Clink
- Cling
- Clift
- Clines
- Clind
- Clin
- Clinn
- Clins
- Caland
- Calenti
- Calienda
- Caliendo
- Calland
- Callant
- Callend
- Callent
- Callond
- Callund
- Clant
- Clenet
- Clennet
- Clennett
- Clent
- Clignet
- Clinter
- Clintock
- Clinton
- Clleand
- Clond
- Clont
- Clynt
- Clynton
- Coland
- Colenut
- Colenutt
- Colinet
- Colland
- Collenet
- Collenett
- Collenette
- Collind
- Collinet
- Collinette
- Colnet
- Colnett
- Colnutt
- Couland
- Cowland
- Culland
- Cullund
- Gailand
- Galand
- Galant
- Galanta
- Galante
- Galanti
- Galent
- Galinato
- Galindo
- Galland
- Gallant
- Gallante
- Gallanti
- Gallent
- Gallond
- Gawland
- Gayland
- Gland
- Glant
- Glend
- Glenet
- Glunt
- Goland
- Golant
- Golend
- Golland
- Gouland
- Gowland
- Gowlland
- Gualandi
- Guilland
- Guillonnet
- Gulland
- Guyland
- Kailondo
- Kalanda
- Kalenda
- Kalinda
- Kalland
- Kallend
- Kalonda
- Kalunda
- Kalunta
- Kayland
- Keeland
- Keland
- Kelland
- Kellend
- Kellond
- Keyland
- Kielland
- Kilindo
- Killand
- Kleinot
- Klindt
- Klint
- Koland
- Kolanda
- Kolenda
- Kolendo
- Kolind
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Clint in...
Braille
⠉⠇⠊⠝⠞
Morse
-.-..-....-.-
Semaphore
There are approximately 315 people named Clint in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around five in a million people in Britain are named Clint.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Clint
- George Clint - Portrait painter and engraver (1770 to 1854)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.