Claxton is an uncommon, yet distinctively Southern American name of British origin. It is derived from the Old English words 'clace' meaning "ladle" and 'tun' which signifies "settlement". Thus, Claxton translates to "settlement by the ladle", potentially referring to a place where a prominent family or group resided. The name gained popularity in the United States during the mid-19th century, particularly in the Southern states. Today, it is still most commonly found in the American South, giving it a unique regional identity.
The name Claxton experienced notable fluctuations in popularity over the years, with peaks occurring in 1920 (15 births) and 1942 (10 births). The highest number of births in a single year was recorded in 1963 with 9 occurrences. However, there were several years with only a single-digit number of births, including periods from the late 1920s to early 1950s and again from the late 1960s onwards, culminating in just 5 births recorded in 2011. Overall, the name Claxton was given to a total of 285 children over this period.