History of the Clement name

At the beginning of the third century, Titus Flavius Clemens was called Clemens Alexandrinus, or Clement of Alexandria, because he was from Alexandria. He began his studies in Greece and died in Egypt, but during his lifetime acquired exacting ideas of the christian revelation.

As soon as Clemens arrived at Alexandria, he became a student of Pantaenus, a Philosopher of the Stoic School, who later became christian. When Pantaenus was sent to preach the gospel to the indians by Demetrius, about the year 191, Clemens succeeded him in the Catechetial School. He taught that all was good in pagan philosophy, and then began teaching Christianity. He was given title of Priest and wrote a work called "Stromates"—discourses concerning miscellaneous matter.

Clement family crest (top)
and coat of arms (bottom).
The formal coat of arms
bears the inscription,
"PRO PATRIIS ET VIRTUTIBUS,"
or "For our homelands
and virtuous character."

When Severus began persecution of the Christians, many left Egypt to escape. Clemens also fled, going to Jerusalem and living with Alexander. Later, in a letter of Alexander to the Church of Antioch he writes that, "Clemens was a man of great virtue as the Church of Antioch knew already, and would know better when he came among them; and that having been at Jerusalem he had, by God's blessing, greatly strengthened the Church." From Antioch, Clemens returned to Alexandria. A very early church at Rome is dedicated to him, and he is thought to be the same Clemens mentioned by St. Paul (Phil. 4:3), author of two epistles, and first of nine bishops of Rome so called. Therefore, "Your Clemency" became a title of the emperors, and the orator, Tertullus, addressed it to Felix.

In Germany, Clemens has preserved its Latin form, but is "Klemin, Mente, Menz, Mentzel". In Denmark, "Klemet and Mens".

Clement and Clementi are French and Italian surnames, as Clement and Clemente are the Christian ones.

The Russians have "Kliment", and the Hungarians "Kelemen".

(From the book "Clements" by Jeanette Holland Stucki and Dorothy Holland Herring. Used by permission.)