UK surname
An English surname derived from the word "clag", meaning a sticky substance or mud.
In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Clagg surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #32,765 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clagg is 260 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 85.7%.
1881 census count
7
Ranked #32,765
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
260 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Clagg surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Clagg surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 38 | #26,502 |
| 1861 | historical | 260 | #9,516 |
| 1881 | historical | 7 | #32,765 |
| 1891 | historical | 163 | #17,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Liverpool, Combmartin and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 4 | Combmartin | Devon |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Clagg surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clagg, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Clagg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Clagg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Clagg is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clagg is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Clagg, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Clagg is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, England during the late Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "clæg" meaning clay or clayey soil, and "clough" referring to a narrow valley or ravine. This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived near or worked with clay or in a clay-lined valley.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John Clagge is listed as residing in the village of Normanby. The name is also found in various 15th and 16th century manorial records and parish registers across Yorkshire, often spelled as Clagge, Clegge, or Clegg.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a place called "Clegehog" is mentioned, which is believed to be an early spelling of the modern-day village of Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire. This place name may be related to the surname Clagg, as it likely referred to a clay-lined or clayey area.
Notable individuals with the surname Clagg throughout history include:
1. William Clagg (c.1560-1624), an English merchant and member of the Virginia Company of London, who helped establish the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown.
2. Samuel Clagg (1623-1691), an English Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony and served as the pastor of the Salem Village Church during the Salem Witch Trials.
3. Mary Clagg (1681-1758), an English Quaker and author, known for her spiritual autobiographical writings and advocacy for women's rights.
4. John Clagg (1730-1804), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a member of Parliament.
5. Thomas Clagg (1806-1879), an English industrialist and engineer, who helped revolutionize the textile industry with his innovations in power loom design.
The surname Clagg has maintained a presence in various parts of England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and the surrounding areas, although it remains relatively uncommon compared to other English surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clagg surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Nottinghamshire leads with 2 Claggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.81x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 21.81x |
| Devon | 1 | 7.06x |
| Dorset | 1 | 22.37x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 9.19x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 2 Claggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.39x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 84.39x |
| Heanton Punchardon | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Messingham | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Radipole | 1 | 3333.33x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 27.55x |
| Windle | 1 | 222.22x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clagg surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Clagg surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Clagg households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Agrl Servant | 1 |
| Dyer | 1 |
| Genl Servant | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Lace Joiner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Clagg surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Clagg a modern rank of #39,061.
An English surname derived from the word "clag", meaning a sticky substance or mud.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clagg bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.