Clarenceux is the senior of the two provincial kings of arms and his jurisdiction is that part of England south of the River Trent.

There are also some early references to the southern part of England being termed Surroy, but there is not firm evidence that there was ever a king of arms so called.

The title of Clarenceux is supposedly derived from either the Honour (or estates of dominion) of the Clare earls of Gloucester, or from the Dukedom of Clarence (1362).

Brackets indicate a date for which there is evidence the named person held this office A gilt copper plaque displaying in champlevé enamel the arms of Tonge (Azure, a bend cotised between six martlets) impaling White (Or, a chevron gules between three popinjays vert armed and langued gules within a bordure azure bezanty), dated 1554, survives in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

A motto in French is inscribed along the top: ESPOER EN DIEU (Hope in God) and an inscription in English beneath: The armys of the ryght worshepful Maister Tonge otherwyse called Maister Clarencivs and mesteris Susan hys wyfe.