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 CanadaAlistair Clarkson (born 1968), former Australian rules footballerDavid Clarkson (born 1984), professional ice hockey playerJeremy Clarkson (born 1960), English motoring journalist and former co-presenter of BBC's Top GearJohn Clarkson (born 1861), American baseball playerJordan Clarkson (born 1992), Professional NBA playerJulian Clarkson, English baritoneKelly Clarkson (born 1982), American Idol winner; singer/songwriterLana Clarkson (1962–2003), American actress and murder victimLucy Clarkson (born 1982), British modelMargaret Clarkson (born 1941), English Artist who paints nosalgic scenesNathaniel James Clarkson (born 1978), British record producer, aka Nat Clarxon & NJCPatricia Clarkson (born 1959), American actressPhil Clarkson, English footballerRobert Clarkson, American tax protesterStephen Clarkson (born 1937), Canadian political scientistStu Clarkson (1919–1957), American football playerThomas Clarkson (1760–1846), British abolitionistTony Clarkson (born 1939), cricketerWilly Clarkson (1861-1934), theatrical costume designer and wigmakerWalter Clarkson (1878–1946), American baseball playerTom 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