This is a truly ancient and honourable English surname. Its origin is sometimes confused with the Spanish and ultimately Roman name of Clavero, although in fact there is no connection. Clavering is locational from the village of the same name in the county of Essex, and first recorded as Claufinga in the famous Domesday Book of 1086. The origin of the village name and hence the surname is the pre 7th century word claefre meaning clover, whilst the Spanish name is from the Latin word clavis meaning a key. According to Burkes General Armoury, the original Clavering nameholder was Robert Fitz Roger, feudal baron of Warkworth and Clavering during the reign of King Edward 11nd of England, 1307 - 1327. The Claverings of County Durham and of Callay Castle, Northumberland, also claim the same descent. The original coat of arms has the blazon of Quarterly, Or and Gules (gold and red), over all a black bend. Locational surnames were often given as in this case, to the local lord of the manor, and his descendants, and sometimes to former inhabitants of the place, who for whatever reason moved somewhere else, and thereafter were most easily identified by being called after that place.

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