Clarke is used as a family name or surname in Scotland, Ireland, England. It is 6 characters long in length.

Family Name / Last Name: Clarke
No. of characters: 6
Origin: Scotland, Ireland, England
Meaning:

Surname is a variation of Clerke. See Clarke - Lat. clericus. French Le Clerc. A learned person - that is, one who could in old times read and write accomplishments not so rare, after all, as we are sometimes induced to think, since this is among the commonest of surnames. Clark stands 27th and Clarke 39th in the Registrar General's comparative list: and for 33,557 Smiths registered within a given period, there were 12,229 Clarks and Clarkes. Thus for every three hammermen we have at least one 'ready writer. 'If the Reg. General had reckoned Clark and Clarke as one name, it would have stood ninth in point of numerousness. As a surname, Clarke appears frequently to have aliased some other appellative; for instance the baronet family, C. of Salford, originally Woodchurch, from the parish of that name in Kent, soon after the Conquest became Clarkes (Le Clerc) in consequence of a marriage with an heiress, and the family for some generations wrote themselves "Woodchurch alias Le Clerc," and vice versa, until at length the territorial appellation succumbed to the professional one, which was right, for
"When house and land be gone and spente,
Then learning is most excellent."

Several other instances might be quoted to show that medieval bearers of the name were very proud of it, and hence, doubtless, its present numerousness. The word has several compounds in our family nomenclature, as Beauclerk, Mauclerk, Kenclarke, Petyclerk—the good, the bad, the knowing, and the little clerks, Several Domesday tenants are designated Clericus.

The surname is the form of Clerke. See Clarke - Lat. clericus. French Le Clerc. A learned person - that is, one who could in old times read and write accomplishments not so rare, after all, as we are sometimes induced to think, since this is among the commonest of surnames. Clark stands 27th and Clarke 39th in the Registrar General's comparative list: and for 33,557 Smiths registered within a given period, there were 12,229 Clarks and Clarkes. Thus for every three hammermen we have at least one 'ready writer. 'If the Reg. General had reckoned Clark and Clarke as one name, it would have stood ninth in point of numerousness. As a surname, Clarke appears frequently to have aliased some other appellative; for instance the baronet family, C. of Salford, originally Woodchurch, from the parish of that name in Kent, soon after the Conquest became Clarkes (Le Clerc) in consequence of a marriage with an heiress, and the family for some generations wrote themselves "Woodchurch alias Le Clerc," and vice versa, until at length the territorial appellation succumbed to the professional one, which was right, for
"When house and land be gone and spente,
Then learning is most excellent."

Several other instances might be quoted to show that medieval bearers of the name were very proud of it, and hence, doubtless, its present numerousness. The word has several compounds in our family nomenclature, as Beauclerk, Mauclerk, Kenclarke, Petyclerk—the good, the bad, the knowing, and the little clerks, Several Domesday tenants are designated Clericus.

Lat. clericus. French Le Clerc. A learned person - that is, one who could in old times read and write accomplishments not so rare, after all, as we are sometimes induced to think, since this is among the commonest of surnames. Clark stands 27th and Clarke 39th in the Registrar General's comparative list: and for 33,557 Smiths registered within a given period, there were 12,229 Clarks and Clarkes. Thus for every three hammermen we have at least one 'ready writer. 'If the Reg. General had reckoned Clark and Clarke as one name, it would have stood ninth in point of numerousness. As a surname, Clarke appears frequently to have aliased some other appellative; for instance the baronet family, C. of Salford, originally Woodchurch, from the parish of that name in Kent, soon after the Conquest became Clarkes (Le Clerc) in consequence of a marriage with an heiress, and the family for some generations wrote themselves "Woodchurch alias Le Clerc," and vice versa, until at length the territorial appellation succumbed to the professional one, which was right, for
"When house and land be gone and spente,
Then learning is most excellent."

Several other instances might be quoted to show that medieval bearers of the name were very proud of it, and hence, doubtless, its present numerousness. The word has several compounds in our family nomenclature, as Beauclerk, Mauclerk, Kenclarke, Petyclerk—the good, the bad, the knowing, and the little clerks, Several Domesday tenants are designated Clericus.

Clarke is a variant form of Clarke. A clergyman, scholar, scribe or recorder, a British pronunciation of clerk.

A clergyman, scholar, scribe or recorder, a British pronunciation of clerk.

Clarke is form of Clarke. Lat. clericus. French Le Clerc. A learned person - that is, one who could in old times read and write accomplishments not so rare, after all, as we are sometimes induced to think, since this is among the commonest of surnames. Clark stands 27th and Clarke 39th in the Registrar General's comparative list: and for 33,557 Smiths registered within a given period, there were 12,229 Clarks and Clarkes. Thus for every three hammermen we have at least one 'ready writer. 'If the Reg. General had reckoned Clark and Clarke as one name, it would have stood ninth in point of numerousness. As a surname, Clarke appears frequently to have aliased some other appellative; for instance the baronet family, C. of Salford, originally Woodchurch, from the parish of that name in Kent, soon after the Conquest became Clarkes (Le Clerc) in consequence of a marriage with an heiress, and the family for some generations wrote themselves "Woodchurch alias Le Clerc," and vice versa, until at length the territorial appellation succumbed to the professional one, which was right, for
"When house and land be gone and spente,
Then learning is most excellent."

Several other instances might be quoted to show that medieval bearers of the name were very proud of it, and hence, doubtless, its present numerousness. The word has several compounds in our family nomenclature, as Beauclerk, Mauclerk, Kenclarke, Petyclerk—the good, the bad, the knowing, and the little clerks, Several Domesday tenants are designated Clericus.

How popular is Clarke?

Clarke is common in England, United States, Australia, Canada, Jamaica, Ireland, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Wales, New Zealand, Barbados, Scotland, Trinidad and Tobago, Liberia, Bahamas, Guyana, Nigeria, Thailand, Panama, Spain, Saudi Arabia, France, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Germany, Belize, Namibia, Costa Rica, Cayman Islands, Netherlands, Dominican Republic, United States Virgin Islands, Grenada, Samoa, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Chile, Jersey, Isle of Man, Zimbabwe, Sweden, Turks and Caicos Islands, Japan, Vanuatu, Brazil, India, Portugal, Switzerland, Venezuela, Bermuda, Norway, Belgium, Malaysia, Denmark, Guernsey, Oman.

Clarke is ranked 1260 on our list.

Despite the fact that the number of Clarke bearers increased by 9.17 per cent in 2010 US census to 68281 since 2000, the surname slipped by 11 spots and ranked at 487. The last name was found in around 2 per ten thousand population. Please refer to following table for race and ethnicity.

Race 2010 2000
White 61.02 66.14
Black 32.1 28.18
Hispanic or Latino 3.56 2.46
Others 2.32 2.29
Asian and Native Hawaiian
& Other Pacific Islander		 0.63 0.52
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.38 0.4
Clarke is quite popular family name mostly used in England however Barbados lie ahead in terms of density. Around 422443 people have been found who wears Clarke as their family name. Clarke is used widely across the globe. More detailed information can be found below:
RankCountryCount
Countries with hundred thousands of Clarke:
20 England135,417
Countries with ten thousands of Clarke:
412 United States94,977
33 Australia47,613
57 Canada36,520
7 Jamaica29,634
35 Ireland14,986
Countries with thousands of Clarke:
809 South Africa8,603
16 Northern Ireland6,842
43 Wales5,499
42 New Zealand5,442
1 Barbados5,359
202 Scotland4,460
35 Trinidad and Tobago3,792
164 Liberia3,678
25 Bahamas3,100
37 Guyana1,839
10,434 Nigeria1,056
9,143 Thailand1,004
Countries with hundreds of Clarke:
536 Panama852
5,232 Spain820
6,666 Saudi Arabia676
16,043 France615
31 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines530
19 Saint Kitts and Nevis446
80 Saint Lucia392
23,473 Germany391
243 Belize340
1,470 Namibia317
643 Costa Rica293
34 Cayman Islands276
10,876 Netherlands267
2,154 Dominican Republic262
38 United States Virgin Islands259
75 Grenada257
243 Samoa243
69 Antigua and Barbuda240
15,006 Argentina239
3,178 Chile221
22 Jersey218
28 Isle of Man214
12,339 Zimbabwe182
4,260 Sweden179
44 Turks and Caicos Islands174
18,160 Japan159
485 Vanuatu157
46,468 Brazil156
125,565 India153
3,598 Portugal151
7,281 Switzerland143
5,724 Venezuela138
67 Bermuda136
5,398 Norway135
14,331 Belgium124
13,930 Malaysia120
5,600 Denmark103
92 Guernsey103
2,479 Oman101
Countries with low frequency i.e., 50 - 100:
7,938 Ecuador77
5,585 Kuwait77
1,738 Suriname77
16,970 Mexico76
101,646 Philippines72
65,615 Italy71
27,244 Greece66
14,123 Peru64
1,632 Cyprus62
4,582 Bahrain59
1,292 China58
2,926 Hong Kong54
Countries with very low frequency i.e., 10 - 50:
116 British Virgin Islands50
1 Falkland Islands48
115 Gibraltar48
551 Malta48
292 Dominica44
5,229 Cuba40
19,099 United Arab Emirates34
209,401 Russia32
2,705 Honduras29
34,120 Austria28
44,481 Czechia28
11,486 Ghana26
1,298 Iceland25
10,029 Lesotho25
91,394 Poland23
15,343 Botswana22
59 Anguilla21
20,300 Finland21
11,611 Singapore21
31,291 Hungary20
80 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha16
516 Sierra Leone16
340,855 Indonesia15
66,712 Papua New Guinea15
1,045 Aruba14
389 Curaçao14
2,518 Vietnam14
39,474 Kenya13
81,551 Uganda13
19,471 Estonia12
2,098 Guam12
47,700 Israel12
26,891 Qatar12
Countries with very very low frequency i.e., 6 - 10:
480 Cook Islands10
96 Montserrat10
20,130 Afghanistan9
3,802 Madagascar9
130,497 Turkey9
114 Saint Martin8
7,503 Cambodia7
668 Monaco7
1,243 South Korea7
1,961 American Samoa6
23,614 Colombia6
62,302 Egypt6
34,188 Zambia6
Show Full Last Name Distribution

Immigrants to US

From Ireland

Weaver Mary Clarke from Great Britain aboard the Henrietta Mary from Liverpool during the Irish famine. She is registered to be 20 years old when she arrived in USA on May 15, 1846. Maid Cathe. Clarke, Workman Thomas Clarke, Patk. Clarke, aged 26, 26 years old Rich. Clarke, 20 years old U Clarke, Infant U Clarke, Georg. Clarke (23) Workman, Ellen Clarke, aged 18, and 1071 other Clarke around 56.19% of whom were workman while others worked as farmer and spinster, tailoress, seamstress, gardner/grower, shoemaker, mason, baker, laundry man/ ironer, clerk, carpenter, mechanic, linen bleacher, grocer, miller migrated to US.

From Germany

6 months old Heinrich Clarke who was residing in Germany migrated to USA on January 11, 1854 by Catherine put out from Antwerp. Louise Clarke, aged 3, Farmer Louise Clarke, E.C.R. Clarke, aged 25, 10 years old J. Clarke, Miner W.H. Clarke, Merchant Mr.Henry Clarke, Katherine Clarke, aged 48, William Clarke (20) Pilot, 30 years old U-Mrs Clarke, Rosa Clarke (26), 22 years old B.A. Clarke, and 11 other Clarke around 52.94% of whom were laborer while others worked as servant migrated to US from Antwerp, Hamburg & Southampton, Liverpool, Liverpool & Queenstown and Bremen.

Clarke Namesakes

  • Marcus Clarke, English-born Australian novelist, journalist, poet
  • Samuel Clarke, English philosopher and Anglican clergyman
  • Charles Cowden Clarke, English author and Shakespearian scholar, was
  • Jeremiah Clarke, English baroque composer and organist, best
  • George Johnson Clarke, New Brunswick lawyer, journalist and politician
  • Ellis Clarke, second and last Governor-General of Trinidad and Tobago and the first President of Trinidad and Tobago
  • Louis Clarke, American athlete
  • Gillian Clarke, Welsh poet and playwright,
  • James Freeman Clarke, American theologian and author
  • Adam Clarke, British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar
  • Richard W. B. Clarke, British civil servant
  • Suzanna Clarke, author, photographer and journalist
  • William Eagle Clarke, British ornithologist
  • Larry Clarke, Canadian businessman and the founder, president
  • Elizabeth Clarke, first woman persecuted by the Witchfinder General
  • Thomas Shields Clarke, American painter and sculptor
  • Lindsay Clarke, British novelist
  • Mary Cowden Clarke, English author
  • Shirley Clarke, American experimental and independent filmmaker
  • Davian Clarke, Jamaican athlete
  • Nick Clarke, English radio and television presenter and journalist
  • Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke, born to Irish parents from Lisdowney, Co
  • Carter W. Clarke, U.S. Army intelligence officer and brigadier general
  • Newman S. Clarke, career military officer in the United States army
  • Hilda Margery Clarke, friend and student of L. S. Lowry
  • Norm Clarke, American gossip columnist in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Gerald B. Clarke, GCLM, CMG, 1964, ISO
  • Desmond Clarke, author and professor of philosophy at University College Cork
  • Philip L. Clarke, American voice actor
  • Marjorie Clarke, Ph
  • Rebecca Sophia Clarke, American author of children's fiction
  • Martha Clarke, American theater director and choreographer noted for her multidisciplinary approach to theatre
  • Hugh V. Clarke, Australian soldier, public servant and author
  • Gilmore David Clarke, American civil engineer and landscape architect
  • Henry Wilberforce Clarke, translator of Persian works by mystic poets Saadi
  • Chandra K. Clarke, author, columnist, and business woman
  • Jacob Augustus Lockhart Clarke, British physiologist and neurologist
  • Simone Clarke, English ballerina and former Prima Ballerina of English National Ballet company
  • Terence Clarke, British army officer and politician
  • Vin¢ Clarke, well-known British science fiction fan
  • Jackie Clarke, New Zealand entertainer, singer and comedian
  • Cyril Clarke, British physician, geneticist and lepidopterist
  • Bryan Clarke, British Professor of genetics
  • Edward Daniel Clarke, English clergyman, naturalist, mineralogist
  • Frank Wigglesworth Clarke, American scientist and chemist
  • Ronald J. Clarke, paleoanthropologist most notable for the discovery of "Little Foot"
  • Edith Clarke, first female electrical engineer and the first female professor of electrical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin
  • John Henry Clarke, prominent English classical homeopath
  • Alexander Ross Clarke, British geodesist
  • Lowther Clarke, fourth Anglican bishop and first archbishop of Melbourne
  • Caitlin Clarke, American theater and film actress best
  • Kenneth Clarke, British Conservative politician
  • Harry Clarke, Irish stained-glass artist and book illustrator
  • Vince Clarke, English synthpop musician and songwriter
  • Mary Anne Clarke, was the mistress of Prince Frederick
  • Stanley Clarke, American bassist and founding member of Return to Forever
  • Lenny Clarke, American comedian and actor
  • George Elliott Clarke, Canadian poet and playwright and served as the Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate
  • Don Clarke, New Zealand rugby union player

Clarke Namesakes

  • Marcus Clarke, English-born Australian novelist, journalist, poet
  • Samuel Clarke, English philosopher and Anglican clergyman
  • Charles Cowden Clarke, English author and Shakespearian scholar, was
  • Jeremiah Clarke, English baroque composer and organist, best
  • George Johnson Clarke, New Brunswick lawyer, journalist and politician
  • Ellis Clarke, second and last Governor-General of Trinidad and Tobago and the first President of Trinidad and Tobago
  • Louis Clarke, American athlete
  • Gillian Clarke, Welsh poet and playwright,
  • James Freeman Clarke, American theologian and author
  • Adam Clarke, British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar
  • Richard W. B. Clarke, British civil servant
  • Suzanna Clarke, author, photographer and journalist
  • William Eagle Clarke, British ornithologist
  • Larry Clarke, Canadian businessman and the founder, president
  • Elizabeth Clarke, first woman persecuted by the Witchfinder General
  • Thomas Shields Clarke, American painter and sculptor
  • Lindsay Clarke, British novelist
  • Mary Cowden Clarke, English author
  • Shirley Clarke, American experimental and independent filmmaker
  • Davian Clarke, Jamaican athlete
  • Nick Clarke, English radio and television presenter and journalist
  • Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke, born to Irish parents from Lisdowney, Co
  • Carter W. Clarke, U.S. Army intelligence officer and brigadier general
  • Newman S. Clarke, career military officer in the United States army
  • Hilda Margery Clarke, friend and student of L. S. Lowry
  • Norm Clarke, American gossip columnist in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Gerald B. Clarke, GCLM, CMG, 1964, ISO
  • Desmond Clarke, author and professor of philosophy at University College Cork
  • Philip L. Clarke, American voice actor
  • Marjorie Clarke, Ph
  • Rebecca Sophia Clarke, American author of children's fiction
  • Martha Clarke, American theater director and choreographer noted for her multidisciplinary approach to theatre
  • Hugh V. Clarke, Australian soldier, public servant and author
  • Gilmore David Clarke, American civil engineer and landscape architect
  • Henry Wilberforce Clarke, translator of Persian works by mystic poets Saadi
  • Chandra K. Clarke, author, columnist, and business woman
  • Jacob Augustus Lockhart Clarke, British physiologist and neurologist
  • Simone Clarke, English ballerina and former Prima Ballerina of English National Ballet company
  • Terence Clarke, British army officer and politician
  • Vin¢ Clarke, well-known British science fiction fan
  • Jackie Clarke, New Zealand entertainer, singer and comedian
  • Cyril Clarke, British physician, geneticist and lepidopterist
  • Bryan Clarke, British Professor of genetics
  • Edward Daniel Clarke, English clergyman, naturalist, mineralogist
  • Frank Wigglesworth Clarke, American scientist and chemist
  • Ronald J. Clarke, paleoanthropologist most notable for the discovery of "Little Foot"
  • Edith Clarke, first female electrical engineer and the first female professor of electrical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin
  • John Henry Clarke, prominent English classical homeopath
  • Alexander Ross Clarke, British geodesist
  • Lowther Clarke, fourth Anglican bishop and first archbishop of Melbourne
  • Caitlin Clarke, American theater and film actress best
  • Kenneth Clarke, British Conservative politician
  • Harry Clarke, Irish stained-glass artist and book illustrator
  • Vince Clarke, English synthpop musician and songwriter
  • Mary Anne Clarke, was the mistress of Prince Frederick
  • Stanley Clarke, American bassist and founding member of Return to Forever
  • Lenny Clarke, American comedian and actor
  • George Elliott Clarke, Canadian poet and playwright and served as the Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate
  • Don Clarke, New Zealand rugby union player

Related Family Names: