Late 18th century; earliest use found in Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), revolutionary politician and president of the United States of America. Partly from the name of George Clinton American soldier and anti-federalist politician, first Governor of New York 1777–95 and 1801–4, and Vice-President of the United States 1805–12 (serving consecutively under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison), and partly from the name of his nephew DeWitt Clinton Governor of New York 1817–22.

1990s; earliest use found in Newsweek. From the name of William J. D. (‘Bill’) Clinton (b. 1946), U.S. Democratic politician, Governor of Arkansas 1979–81 and 1983–92, and 42nd President of the United States 1993–2001, and subsequently also of his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton (b. 1946), First Lady of the United States 1993–2001, and U.S. Senator 2000– + -ian.