Recorded as Clack, Clacke, Clacks, Clackers, Clackery, Clackett, Clackitt, Clagget, and no doubt others, this interesting suname is English. It derives from the pre 7th century word 'clacc' originally given as a nickname to a chatterer, one who clacked, or possibly given the robust humour of those medieval times, the complete reverse! The first recording of the name is that of "Clac de Fugelburne", of Cambridgeshire, in the famous Anglo-Saxon Chronicles of the year 975 a.d. This makes it one of the earliest names recorded anywhere. The surname first appears in the latter half of the 12th Century, and Henry Clac appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327. Other recordings taken at random across the country include Joseph Clackery christened at St Botolphs Bishopgate, city of London, on May 2nd 1753, John Clack who married Ann Jeffreis at St. Georges Chapel, Hanover Square, Westminster in 1774, whilst in Llantwitfarde, Glamorgan, Wales, John Henry Clack, was baptised there on December 20th 1868. The coat of arms granted to the family on November 13th 1768 has the blazon of a red shield thereon an eagle displayed ermine, within a bordure engrailed erminoise. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Godricius Clacca, which was dated 1169, in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as the Builder of Churches, 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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