ðə nˈeɪm klˈæɹɛndən ɪz fˈɜːst ɹᵻkˈoːɹdᵻd ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈoːɹ, ænd mˈeɪ dᵻɹˈaɪv fɹʌm ɐn ˈoʊld ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ fˈɔːɹm ˈæstɚɹˌɪsk klˈɛɹɪŋə dˈʌn, mˈiːnɪŋ "hˈɪl ɐsˈoʊsɪˌeɪɾᵻd wɪð klˈɛɹ".
The name Clarendon is first recorded in 1164, and may derive from an Old English form *Claringa dūn, meaning "hill associated with Clare".