Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

Port Clarence NZ 4921 The shipping place of the Clarence Railway and site of blast furnaces and extensive iron-works in the 19th cent. The Clarence railway ran from the Tees to the Stockton and Darlington railway at Sim Pasture. Founded in 1828, it was sold to the Stockton and Hartlepool Railway in 1852. Its name commemorates the third son of George III, William, who was created Duke of Clarence in 1769 and acceded to the throne in 1830 as William IV. The title was originally created for Lionel of Antwerp, the second son of Edward the third, on his marriage in 1362, but its origin is disputed. OED s.v. Clarenceux derives it from Clare in Suffolk since Lionel's bride was the Clare heiress, but it is closer in form to Clarentza in the Peloponnese, the major port of Morea founded by the crusaders in the 13th cent., the name of which was used to give a ducal title to the eldest son of the Prince of Achaia. Lionel's mother, Philippa of Hainault, was a great-niece of William de Villehardouin, Prince of Achaia 1246×78.