Clarkson

Clarkson is a surname of English origin. It is a patronymic form meaning "son of Clark," with Clark itself derived from the medieval given name Clark, traditionally associated with a clerk or scholar. The name has spread to other parts of the English-speaking world and is found among populations in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

The name is used in toponymy and as the name of institutions. Clarkson University is a private research university located in Potsdam, New York, founded in the early 20th century and known for programs in engineering, business, and applied sciences. The surname is also attached to various towns, neighborhoods, and geographic features, often named after early settlers or landowners bearing the Clarkson name.

Notable individuals with the surname include Jeremy Clarkson (born 1960), a British broadcaster and journalist best known for presenting the car program Top Gear and, subsequently, The Grand Tour. The surname is shared by other figures in politics, business, and the arts, though they may be less widely known outside their fields.

See also Clarkson (disambiguation).