Clint

Clint is a short form of Clinton, a surname that came from English places such as Glympton and Glinton. Glympton refers to a settlement by the River Glyme, while Glinton has a different place-name history. The settlement histories explain how the longer surname developed before it became a given name.

Actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood is a prominent bearer of the short form, giving it a strong association with American cinema. A family may choose Clint independently or use it as the everyday form of Clinton. The shorter name keeps the surname's opening while dropping the settlement ending, producing a crisp one-syllable form. Its place-name history and later film association are separate parts of the story, leaving room for a personal family connection as well.