# Clayton (name)

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
* JoAnn Clayton Townsend (1935–2020), formerly JoAnn Clayton, American space policy analyst
* 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 Bartolo (born 1987), Maltese politician

## 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 Counts (1973–2016), American musician and composer
* 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 Brackett (born 1993), American wheelchair rugby player
* 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 da Rosa Peixoto (born 1991), Brazilian footballer
* 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
* Clayton, a red shapeshifter ball in The Amazing World of Gumball