Recorded in the spellings of Clout, Cloutt, Cluatt, Cluet, Cluett, and Cluitt, this is an English surname. The origin is uncertain, but two likely sources are firstly that it could be occupational, and as such may have described a highly skilled handyman, one who specialised in household repairs. The derivation being from the pre 7th century Olde English word 'clut' meaning to patch. This was a broad based activity the local 'clout' being expected to be efficient at most types of repairs including clothes, shoes, or even household utensils. A second possible origin is that it is a diminutive of "Clut", and thus describing little Clut or son of Clut. Not surprisingly the surname is very early dating back to the very beginings of the use of surnames in the 12th century. An early example of the recordings is that of Walter Clut in the Pipe Rolls for the county of Gloucestershire in the year 1207. Examples of church recordings taken from surviving registers in the diocese of Greater London include Margery Clowte, who married Godfrey Cooke on August 10th 1550, at St. Peter's Westcheap, Ann Clewett who married Richard Evans at the church of St. Martin Orgar on May 28th 1566, and Charlotte Cluitt, christened at St Sepulchre church, on December 18th 1760. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Enial Clut. This was dated 1175, in the "Pipe Rolls" of Herefordshire. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop", often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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