CLARK
The surname Clark is an English family name of considerable antiquity, belonging to the class of status names that arose in the British Isles. Its origin is firmly rooted in the Anglo‑Saxon linguistic tradition, deriving from the Old English term clerc or clerec, which initially denoted a scholar, clergyman or a member of a minor religious order.
In the early medieval period literacy was essentially confined to the clergy; consequently the designation clerk became associated with any literate individual, particularly those employed as scribes, secretaries or record‑keepers. The occupational nature of the name is evident in early documentary evidence. The Domesday Book of 1086 records a “Richerius Clericus” in Hampshire, while the Curia Regis Rolls of Rutland (1205) note a “Reginalt Clerc”. A further instance occurs in the “Transcripts of Charters relating to the Gilbertine Houses” (1272) with the entry “John le Clerk”.
The earliest surviving spelling of the name is Willelm le Clerec, dated to the year 1100 in the Old English Byname Register of Somerset. Over the ensuing centuries the surname has manifested in several orthographic variants, including Clarke, Clerk and Clerke. These forms reflect the fluidity of Middle English spelling conventions rather than distinct genealogical lines.
Bearers of the name have been involved in notable historical migrations. In 1620 a Richard Clarke travelled on the “Mayflower” to the New World, and in March 1846 Lawrence Clark, together with his wife Margaret and son Thomas, emigrated from Liverpool aboard the “Shenandoah” to New York as famine‑displaced persons.
In summary, the surname Clark signifies an ancestral connection to clerical or scholarly activity within the Christian context of medieval England. Its endurance from the early twelfth century to the present attests to the lasting social importance of literacy and record‑keeping in English history.
Typical given names associated with the Clark surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Clarke
- Clerk
- Clarck
- Clar
- Clair
- Calrk
- Clare
- Clerke
- Clarcke
- Clara
- Calarco
- Calrke
- Clairs
- Clares
- Clargo
- Claric
- Clarken
- Clarker
- Clarkes
- Clarkey
- Clarkin
- Clarking
- Clarkon
- Clarks
- Clarksom
- Clarkson
- Clarn
- Claro
- Clarr
- Clear
- Cleark
- Clearke
- Clearkin
- Clears
- Cler
- Clerc
- Clerck
- Clergue
- Clerico
- Clerks
- Cllark
- Cloarec
- Clurg
- Clurk
- Clurken
- Colerick
- Collerick
- Collorick
- Cowlrick
- Galarraga
- Glurrcoe
- Klaric
- Klark
- Klauke
- Klerck
- Klerk
- Klerks
- Kolarik
- Kollarik
- Claar
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Clark in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Clark are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Custard Cream.
There are approximately 135,984 people named Clark in the UK. That makes it the 30th most common surname in Britain. Around 2,088 in a million people in Britain are named Clark.
Surname type: Status name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Clark
- Rylan Clark-Neal - Television presenter and singer
- Petula Clark - Actress and singer
- Steve Clark - Musician, guitarist, songwriter (1960 to 1991)
- Dave Clark - Drummer, rock singer, songwriter, record producer
- Dodie Clark - YouTuber and singer
- Lee Clark - Football player and manager
- Kenneth Clark - Art historian, broadcaster and museum director (1903 to 1983)
- Sally Clark - Falsely convicted of murder (1964 to 2007)
- Greg Clark - Politician
- Tim Clark - President and CEO of Emirates
- Jessica Clark - Actress
- Anne Erin "Annie" Clark - American singer-songwriter
- Alan Clark - Politician (1928 to 1999)
- Arnold Clark - Scottish businessman (1927 to 2017)
- Marcia Clark - American prosecutor, author, and television correspondent
- Ciaran Clark - Football player
- Ryan Clark - American football player, safety
- Rebecca Faye Clark - Politician
- Alan Clark - Keyboardist
- Ossie Clark - Fashion designer (1942 to 1996)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.