The English surname of Clay comes from the Old English term of ‘claeg’ which referred to the soil material of clay, including one who works in a clay pit. The spelling variations for Clay are Cley, McClay, Klee, Claye and Cleye. In England the Clay population is in the northeast regions including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. In Scotland there are just a few pockets where there are lay families, most centered n Midlothian county. Within the United States the southern states have many Clay families. Most live in Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and then into Ohio and Pennsylvania. Famous: Cassius Clay (original name of Muhammad Ali-the boxer), Philippe Clay (singer from France), Bryan Clay (decathlon gold medalist in 2008 summer Olympics), Alfred B. Clay (artist) and Henry Clay (19th century statesman and famous orator).