NameCensus.

UK surname

Clack

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of clogs or wooden-soled shoes.

In the 1881 census there were 1,190 people recorded with the Clack surname, ranking it #3,390 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,784, ranked #3,531, down from #3,390 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Clanfield, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Stratford-on-Avon and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clack is 1,938 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.9%.

1881 census count

1,190

Ranked #3,390

Modern count

1,784

2016, ranked #3,531

Peak year

1999

1,938 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clack had 1,190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,390 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,784 in 2016, ranked #3,531.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,783 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Clack surname distribution map

The map shows where the Clack surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Clack surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clack over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 873 #3,129
1861 historical 882 #3,146
1881 historical 1,190 #3,390
1891 historical 1,268 #3,405
1901 historical 1,523 #3,379
1911 historical 1,783 #2,743
1997 modern 1,751 #3,412
1998 modern 1,920 #3,261
1999 modern 1,938 #3,258
2000 modern 1,920 #3,275
2001 modern 1,896 #3,245
2002 modern 1,915 #3,291
2003 modern 1,858 #3,297
2004 modern 1,863 #3,289
2005 modern 1,825 #3,325
2006 modern 1,811 #3,356
2007 modern 1,800 #3,406
2008 modern 1,796 #3,442
2009 modern 1,828 #3,460
2010 modern 1,836 #3,510
2011 modern 1,830 #3,486
2012 modern 1,827 #3,433
2013 modern 1,845 #3,458
2014 modern 1,854 #3,470
2015 modern 1,818 #3,496
2016 modern 1,784 #3,531

Geography

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Where Clacks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Clanfield, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hounslow, Stratford-on-Avon, Shropshire, West Oxfordshire and Waveney. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Clanfield Oxfordshire
2 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hounslow 003 Hounslow
2 Stratford-on-Avon 011 Stratford-on-Avon
3 Shropshire 005 Shropshire
4 West Oxfordshire 010 West Oxfordshire
5 Waveney 015 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clack

These lists show first names that appear often with the Clack surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clack

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clack, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Clack surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Clack household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Clack is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clack is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clack falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clack is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Clack, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Clack

The surname Clack has its origins in the English language, tracing back to the Middle English period of the 12th to 15th centuries. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "clacc" or "clacce," which referred to a loud noise or clattering sound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Clack can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is mentioned in relation to landowners and tenants in various counties, suggesting its widespread use during the Norman era.

In the 13th century, the surname Clack appeared in various legal and historical documents, such as the Curia Regis Rolls and the Hundred Rolls. These records provide insight into the lives and activities of individuals bearing the name during that time period.

The name Clack may have also been influenced by certain place names or geographical locations, particularly those associated with noisy environments or areas near watermills or forges where clattering sounds were common. Some examples include Clackclose in Westmorland and Clackmannan in Scotland.

Notable individuals with the surname Clack throughout history include:

1. John Clack (c. 1550 - 1615), an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the Book of Revelation. 2. William Clack (1670 - 1745), a prominent English clockmaker and inventor from London. 3. Mary Clack (1736 - 1819), a British author and educator known for her influential works on female education. 4. Samuel Clack (1798 - 1867), a British engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in the textile industry. 5. George Clack (1882 - 1958), an Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia.

While the surname Clack may have originated from a descriptive term for a loud noise or clattering sound, it has since evolved and been carried by individuals from various walks of life, leaving an indelible mark on history through their contributions and achievements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clack families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clack surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Oxfordshire leads with 271 Clacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.77x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 271 37.77x
Middlesex 205 1.76x
Berkshire 118 13.53x
Wiltshire 95 9.25x
Surrey 88 1.55x
Gloucestershire 67 2.94x
Yorkshire 58 0.50x
Somerset 31 1.66x
Warwickshire 31 1.06x
Buckinghamshire 28 3.99x
Cambridgeshire 25 3.40x
Huntingdonshire 25 10.84x
Devon 23 0.95x
Hampshire 22 0.92x
Suffolk 19 1.34x
Lancashire 15 0.11x
Kent 14 0.35x
Hertfordshire 12 1.50x
Essex 9 0.39x
Glamorgan 7 0.35x
Bedfordshire 4 0.66x
Lanarkshire 3 0.08x
Lincolnshire 3 0.16x
Norfolk 3 0.17x
Sussex 3 0.15x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Durham 2 0.06x
Northumberland 2 0.12x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Northamptonshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.72x
Rutland 1 1.17x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clanfield in Oxfordshire leads with 41 Clacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2070.71x.

Place Total Index
Clanfield 41 2070.71x
Bampton 26 468.47x
Devizes St James 25 183.15x
Camberwell 24 3.23x
Croydon 22 7.00x
St Pancras London 22 2.35x
Filkins 21 901.29x
Chiswick 20 31.51x
Stanton Harcourt 20 921.66x
Warboys 17 254.87x
Nether Hallam 16 10.27x
Witney 16 133.33x
Lambeth 15 1.48x
Swindon 15 18.82x
Alveston 14 363.64x
Cranham 14 903.23x
Great Faringdon 14 111.73x
St Marylebone London 14 2.26x
Brize Norton 13 426.23x
Corsham 13 86.72x
Harwell 13 403.73x
Huntingfield 12 845.07x
Islington London 12 1.07x
Blackbourton 11 1309.52x
Bromley London 11 4.30x
Ibstone Stokenchurch 11 852.71x
Littleport 11 78.24x
Paddington London 11 2.58x
Reading St Giles 11 12.86x
Great Missenden 10 115.61x
Highworth 10 76.10x
Oxford St Ebbe 10 47.35x
Sheffield 10 2.73x
Uffington 10 442.48x
Clifton 9 7.81x
Coggs 9 326.09x
Isleworth 9 17.43x
Langford 9 588.24x
St George Hanover Square 9 4.40x
Willesden 9 8.22x
Abingdon St Helen 8 31.37x
Burwell 8 90.70x
Crewkerne 8 40.28x
Cuddesdon 8 408.16x
Devizes St Mary 8 77.07x
Ealing 8 7.70x
Hillingdon 8 21.60x
Kensington London 8 1.24x
Lyncombe Widcombe 8 16.34x
Oaksey 8 470.59x
Aldsworth 7 454.55x
Aston Cote 7 247.35x
Berkhampstead 7 38.89x
Chelsea London 7 2.00x
Coleshill 7 564.52x
Curbridge 7 291.67x
Downholme 7 1555.56x
Lechlade 7 149.57x
Lewisham 7 3.31x
Llanwonno 7 9.63x
Minchinhampton 7 38.57x
Moreton Hampstead 7 112.00x
Oldham 7 1.57x
Portsmouth 7 12.77x
Richmond 7 8.82x
Shirburn 7 560.00x
Stanford In Vale 7 202.31x
Asthall 6 402.68x
Aston 6 0.74x
Calne 6 28.37x
Fyfield 6 447.76x
Great Coxwell 6 535.71x
Hardwick 6 857.14x
Hawkesbury 6 77.42x
Pebworth 6 218.18x
Pishill 6 882.35x
St George Bloomsbury 6 9.00x
Stratton St Margaret 6 38.07x
Wolborough 6 19.63x
York St Mary 6 12.58x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clack surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Clack surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 74
John 58
George 56
James 47
Henry 38
Charles 35
Thomas 25
Edward 19
Arthur 16
Richard 16
Alfred 15
Frederick 14
Robert 14
Albert 13
Walter 12
Joseph 10
Harry 8
Samuel 8
Edwin 7
Isaac 6
David 5
Ernest 5
Jesse 5
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Philip 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Boaz 2
Britford 2
Chas. 2
Darius 2
Earnest 2
Eden 2
Emanuel 2
Frank 2
Jessie 2
Percy 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Tom 2
Bengyman 1
Benjamin 1
Benjamine 1
Cwant 1
Cyrus 1
Douglas 1
Gabriel 1
Godfrey 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Clack surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clack surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,190 people were recorded with the Clack surname. That placed it at #3,390 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clack surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,784 in 2016. That gives Clack a modern rank of #3,531.

What does the Clack surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of clogs or wooden-soled shoes.

What does the Clack map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clack bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.