Clayton is both an English surname and a masculine given name. Notable people with the name include:

Science and academia

Surname

• Anita H. Clayton, American researcher
• Ruth Clayton (1925–2003), British medical researcher

Historical

Surname

• Augustin Smith Clayton (1783–1839), jurist and politician from Georgia, USA
• Bertram Tracy Clayton (1862–1918), U.S. congressman and army officer killed in World War I
• Boyce G. Clayton (1929–2020), Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court
• Christopher Clayton, Royal Navy pilot and admiral
• Christopher Clayton (businessman) (1869–1945), British scientist, industrialist and Conservative politician
• Gilbert Clayton (1875–1929), British Army intelligence officer and colonial administrator
• Hilda Clayton (1991–2013), U.S. Army specialist and war photographer
• Henry Clayton (disambiguation), several people
• Iltyd Nicholl Clayton (1886–1955), British Army officer
• John Clayton (disambiguation), several people
• Joseph Clayton (1868–1943), English freelance journalist and biographer
• Joshua Clayton (1744–1798), physician, governor and U.S. senator from Delaware
• Nathaniel Clayton (1833–1895), British politician
• Pat Clayton (1896–1962), desert explorer
• Powell Clayton (1833–1914), Arkansas Governor, Senator and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
• Preston C. Clayton (1903–1996), justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama
• Ralph R. Clayton (1922–2006), American politician
• Robert Clayton (disambiguation), several people
• Sarah Clayton (1712–1779), English industrialist
• Thomas Clayton (1777–1854), lawyer and U.S. senator from Delaware
• Thomas J. Clayton (1826–1900), lawyer and judge from Pennsylvania
• Tubby Clayton (1885–1972), Anglican clergyman, army chaplain and founder of Toc H
• Walter F. Clayton (1865–1942), New York politician
• William Clayton (disambiguation), several people

Given name

• Clayton Cosgrove (born 1969), New Zealand politician
• Clayton D. Potter (1880–1924), Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi
• Clayton Yeutter (1930–2017), American politician and Secretary of Agriculture
• Clayton Besong (born 1988), American Renaissance Man

Cultural and artistic

Surname

• Adam Clayton (born 1960), bassist in U2
• Beth Clayton, American mezzo-soprano
• Bob Clayton (1922–1979), American game show announcer
• Buck Clayton (1911–1991), American jazz trumpeter
• Cameron Clayton (born 1993), American drag queen under the stage name Farrah Moan
• Constance Clayton (1933–2023), American educator and civic leader
• Doctor Clayton (1898–1947), American blues singer
• Ellen Creathorne Clayton (1834–1900), Irish author and artist
• Jamie Clayton (born 1978), American actress and model
• Jan Clayton (1917–1983), American actress
• Jay Clayton (critic) (born 1951), literary critic and professor
• Jay Clayton (musician) (born 1941), jazz singer
• Klariza Clayton (born 1989), English actress and singer
• Merry Clayton (born 1948), American singer
• Peter Clayton (1927–1991), BBC jazz presenter, jazz critic, and author
• R. Gilbert Clayton (1922–2013), American film set designer and actor
• Willie Clayton (born 1955), American blues singer and songwriter

Given name

• Clayton Chitty (born 1985), Canadian actor and model
• Clayton Christensen (1952–2020), American academic and business consultant
• Clayton Hickman (born 1977), British scriptwriter and magazine editor
• Clayton Howard (1934–2017), British make-up artist
• Clayton Moore (1914–1999), American actor best known for playing the Lone Ranger in a television series of the same name
• Clayton Pettet (born 1994 or 1995), British singer and performance artist known professionally as Babymorocco
• Clayton Rohner (born 1957), American film and television actor

Sport

Surname

• Adam Clayton (footballer) (born 1989), English footballer
• Andrew Clayton (born 1973), English freestyle swimmer
• Custio Clayton (born 1987), Canadian boxer
• Derek Clayton (born 1942), Australian marathon runner
• Jim Clayton (rower) (1911–1992), New Zealand rower
• Jonny Clayton (born 1974), Welsh darts player
• José Clayton (born 1974), Brazilian-Tunisian footballer
• Josh Clayton (born 1996), Australian rules footballer
• Mark Clayton (American football, born 1961), American football player
• Mark Clayton (American football, born 1982), American football player
• Max Clayton (born 1994), English footballer
• Michael Clayton (American football) (born 1982), American football player
• Royce Clayton (born 1970), Major League Baseball player
• Scott Clayton (born 1959), Australian rules footballer
• Tom Clayton (jockey) ( c. 1880–1909), Australian jockey
• Travis Clayton (born 2001), English-American football player

Given name

• Clayton Michel Afonso (born 1988), Brazilian footballer
• Clayton Andrews (born 1997), American professional baseball player
• Clayton Bezerra Leite (born 1987), Brazilian footballer
• Clayton da Silveira da Silva (born 1995), Brazilian footballer
• Clayton Donaldson (born 1984), English-Jamaican footballer
• Clayton Fernandes Silva (born 1999), Brazilian footballer
• Clayton Isbell (born 2000), American football player
• Clayton Keller (born 1998), American ice hockey player
• Clayton Kershaw (born 1988), American professional baseball player
• Clayton Lambert (born 1962), West Indian cricketer
• Clayton Murphy (born 1995), American athlete
• Clayton Nascimento Meireles (born 1989), Brazilian footballer
• Clayton Oliver (born 1997), Australian rules footballer
• Clayton Richard (born 1983), American professional baseball player
• Clayton Thorson (born 1995), American football player
• Clayton Tonnemaker (1928–1996), American football player
• Clayton Tune (born 1999), American football player

Fictional characters

• Michael Clayton, title character in the 2007 Oscar-nominated film of the same name
• Clayton, a character and the main antagonist in the 1999 Walt Disney's animated film Tarzan
• Clayton Endicott III, character in the American television series Benson
• Clayton Farlow, oil baron in the American television series Dallas

See also

• Justice Clayton (disambiguation)

Name list

This page or section lists people that share the same given name or the same family name.
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