Clarkson is a common English surname.
It is derived from a patronymic form of an occupational name. The surname means "son of the clerk", and refers to a scribe or secretary. The surname is derived from the Old English clerc, clerec, which means priest; the Old English words were later reinforced by the Old French form of the word clerc. Both the Old English and Old French words are from the Late Latin clericus, which is derived from the Greek klerikos, which is in turn a derivative of kleros, which means "inheritance", "legacy".
An early instances of the surname in English records is "le Clerkissone", in 1308; "Clerksone", in 1332; and "Clarkson", in 1491.
Adrienne Clarkson (born 1939), former Governor General of Canada
Alistair Clarkson (born 1968), former Australian rules footballer
David Clarkson (born 1984), professional ice hockey player
Jeremy Clarkson (born 1960), English motoring journalist and former co-presenter of BBC's Top Gear
John Clarkson (born 1861), American baseball player
Jordan Clarkson (born 1992), Professional NBA player
Julian Clarkson, English baritone
Kelly Clarkson (born 1982), American Idol winner; singer/songwriter
Lana Clarkson (1962–2003), American actress and murder victim
Lucy Clarkson (born 1982), British model
Margaret Clarkson (born 1941), English Artist who paints nosalgic scenes
Nathaniel James Clarkson (born 1978), British record producer, aka Nat Clarxon & NJC
Patricia Clarkson (born 1959), American actress
Phil Clarkson, English footballer
Robert Clarkson, American tax protester
Stephen Clarkson (born 1937), Canadian political scientist
Stu Clarkson (1919–1957), American football player
Thomas Clarkson (1760–1846), British abolitionist
Tony Clarkson (born 1939), cricketer
Willy Clarkson (1861-1934), theatrical costume designer and wigmaker
Walter Clarkson (1878–1946), American baseball player
Tom Clarkson, a fictional character in the BBC television drama Waterloo Road, played by Jason Done.
Louise Clarkson, a fictional character in the American TV series, Everybody Hates Chris. Played by Whoopi Goldberg.
Myles Clarkson, played by Alan Alda in the 1971 American horror film, The Mephisto Waltz
