CLOSE
The surname Close originates in the British Isles, chiefly in England and Scotland, and is first recorded in the early fourteenth century. Early documentary evidence cites Thomas del Close in Yorkshire in 1327 and John Cloos in London in 1409. A precursor form appears in the Curia Rolls of Cambridgeshire, with a record of William le Clos dated 1214 during the reign of King John.
The name derives from the Middle English word clos, meaning an enclosed place or a narrow passage. This term in turn comes from the Old French clos, a derivative of Late Latin clausum, itself from the verb claudere meaning “to close, shut”. Therefore, the surname was originally a topographical indicator for a person living near a walled enclosure, a courtyard set back from a main street in towns, or a farmyard in rural districts. It could also have arisen as a nickname for someone perceived as secretive or reserved, again drawing on a form of the word that signified secrecy.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the spelling of the name varied according to local pronunciation and the limited literacy of the time. Common variants recorded include Cluse, Closs, Clowes and Clowser. In addition, historical documents reveal forms such as Cloase, Clowse, Closse and, in later periods, Claus, Clausse and Klause. When families migrated, these spellings were further altered, resulting in the wide range of present‑day variants.
Church records from the sixteenth century provide additional evidence of the settlement of the name. For example, on 5 June 1569, Peter Close married Mary Thomas at St. Botolph’s in Bishopsgate, and on 30 November 1572, William Close married Avs Wimsoll at St. Mary Aldermary.
In contemporary distribution, the surname remains most frequent in England, Scotland and the United States, with significant concentrations in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. It is also found in Australia and Canada, reflecting patterns of migration from the British Isles. Despite the modern colloquial use of the word close with its sense of intimacy, the surname’s etymology is distinct and unrelated to this modern meaning; its roots lie in medieval descriptions of physical enclosures and the people who resided near them.
The recognisable surname today was further popularised by the American actress Glenn Close, whose family ancestry traces back to England, thereby confirming the enduring English origin of the name.
Typical given names associated with the Close surname
Male
- Brian
- Christopher
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Alison
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Jane
- Margaret
- Marie
- Mary
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Close in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Close are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Cookie.
There are approximately 5,424 people named Close in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,749th most common surname in Britain. Around 83 in a million people in Britain are named Close.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Close
- Glenn Close - American actress
- Brian Close - Cricketer (1931 to 2015)
- Frank Close - Particle physicist
- Ivy Close - Actress (1890 to 1968)
- William Close - American surgeon (1924 to 2009)
- Ben Close - Football player
- Sarah Close - Singer-songwriter
- Brian Close - Northern Irish football player
- Seamus Close - Politician (1947 to 2019)
- Peter Close - Cricketer
- Frank Close - (1913 to 1970)
- Barry Close - East India Company general (1756 to 1813)
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.