claypole was the son of adam claypole of lolham hall, maxey, northamptonshire, and his wife dorothy wingfield, daughter of robert wingfield, of upton, near castor, northamptonshire and his wife elizabeth cecil, who was sister to william cecil, 1st baron burghley. his name was spelt in a great variety of ways, including cleypole, cleypoole, chappole, clappoole, claipol, and claypole.