NameCensus.

UK surname

Clague

A topographic surname derived from the Manx word "klieau" meaning ravine or gully.

In the 1881 census there were 184 people recorded with the Clague surname, ranking it #13,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 592, ranked #8,814, up from #13,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Workington (Workington), Clossocks and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Bury and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clague is 630 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 221.7%.

1881 census count

184

Ranked #13,551

Modern count

592

2016, ranked #8,814

Peak year

1999

630 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clague had 184 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 592 in 2016, ranked #8,814.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 496 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Clague surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clague surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clague 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 80 #23,566
1881 historical 184 #13,551
1891 historical 250 #12,762
1901 historical 417 #9,212
1911 historical 496 #7,867
1997 modern 596 #8,188
1998 modern 629 #8,111
1999 modern 630 #8,160
2000 modern 623 #8,207
2001 modern 624 #8,038
2002 modern 618 #8,282
2003 modern 594 #8,391
2004 modern 590 #8,453
2005 modern 560 #8,679
2006 modern 572 #8,587
2007 modern 588 #8,486
2008 modern 587 #8,562
2009 modern 590 #8,699
2010 modern 608 #8,700
2011 modern 601 #8,682
2012 modern 581 #8,804
2013 modern 606 #8,678
2014 modern 628 #8,489
2015 modern 599 #8,750
2016 modern 592 #8,814

Geography

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Where Clagues are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, West Derby, Liverpool and Cleator. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Bury and Wirral. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Cleator Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 008 Allerdale
2 Allerdale 009 Allerdale
3 Allerdale 010 Allerdale
4 Bury 003 Bury
5 Wirral 042 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clague

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clague

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clague, 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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Clague is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clague is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clague falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clague 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 Clague, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Clague

The surname Clague is of English origin, derived from the Old Norse word 'klakkr', meaning a small rocky hill or cliff. It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in areas with a significant Norse influence, such as Cumberland and Westmorland.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with references found in medieval records and documents. One notable example is the mention of a William Clagh in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland in 1332.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Claghe, Claghe, and Clagh, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the place names where the families resided, such as Claghill or Clagill, which are still present in certain areas of northern England.

In the 16th century, the Clague surname appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Westmorland, a record of taxes paid to the Crown. John Clague, born around 1520, was listed as a landowner in the village of Orton, Westmorland.

Notable individuals with the surname Clague include Sir George Clague (1578-1642), an English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent figure was Captain Thomas Clague (1720-1798), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, James Clague (1842-1925) was a prominent architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in the Isle of Man, including the Manx Museum and the Loch Promenade in Douglas.

Other individuals of note include Sir Ralph Clague (1892-1977), a British civil servant who served as the Governor of Bermuda from 1949 to 1954, and Gillian Clague (born 1941), a renowned Manx singer and musician who has contributed significantly to the preservation of traditional Manx music and culture.

While the surname Clague is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history rooted in the northern counties of England and the Isle of Man, with its origins dating back to the Norse influence in the region. The name's evolution and variations reflect the linguistic and cultural influences of different periods throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clague families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clague 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. Isle of Man leads with 882 Clagues recorded in 1881 and an index of 456.73x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 882 456.73x
Lancashire 83 0.67x
Cumberland 47 5.25x
Middlesex 13 0.13x
Cheshire 12 0.52x
Yorkshire 12 0.12x
Warwickshire 7 0.27x
Worcestershire 6 0.44x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Kent 1 0.03x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Surrey 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 258 Clagues recorded in 1881 and an index of 463.86x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 258 463.86x
Rushen 116 888.21x
Malew 114 675.76x
Arbory 70 1662.71x
Lonan 59 504.27x
Braddan 55 521.33x
Maughold 45 302.01x
German 42 398.86x
German Peel 36 323.74x
Toxteth Park 26 6.22x
Bride 22 833.33x
Patrick 18 191.29x
St Anne 17 817.31x
West Derby 16 4.43x
Cleator 13 34.89x
Lezayre 10 115.47x
Eaglesfield 9 989.01x
Aston 7 0.97x
Cockermouth 7 37.14x
Crosscanonby 7 23.64x
Claines 6 16.10x
Douglas 6 215.05x
Marown 6 170.45x
Ardwick 5 4.49x
Barrow In Furness 5 2.98x
Hackney London 5 0.86x
Michael 5 127.23x
Nether Hallam 5 3.59x
Poplar London 5 2.55x
Shipley 5 9.35x
Tranmere 5 5.93x
Dalton In Furness 4 8.40x
Everton 4 1.02x
Workington 4 7.80x
Egremont 3 14.05x
Heaton Norris 3 4.27x
Malew Castletown 3 857.14x
North Meols 3 2.48x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 0.74x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 2.15x
Birkenhead 2 1.09x
Claughton With Grange 2 19.14x
Lancaster 2 2.72x
Liverpool 2 0.27x
Moresby 2 58.65x
Oxton 2 15.41x
St Luke London 2 1.20x
Arlecdon 1 4.20x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 1 9.34x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 0.51x
Didsbury 1 6.11x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 1.61x
Gisburn 1 52.91x
Hardingstone 1 10.71x
Hulme 1 0.39x
Newton In Makerfield 1 2.65x
Ormskirk 1 4.24x
Reigate Foreign 1 1.82x
Southcoates 1 1.75x
Stockport 1 0.85x
Stoke Newington London 1 1.23x
Tottington Lower End 1 1.71x
Ulverston 1 2.78x
Walton On Hill 1 1.50x
Whitehaven 1 2.10x
Woolwich 1 0.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 54
Margaret 46
Elizabeth 44
Catherine 35
Mary 33
Ann 32
Eleanor 20
Emily 20
Annie 17
Sarah 14
Isabella 13
Eliza 12
Ellen 11
Alice 9
Esther 9
Cathrine 8
Edith 8
Anne 6
Harriet 6
Martha 5
Agnes 4
Charlotte 4
Elenor 4
Emma 4
Frances 4
Jessie 4
Margt. 4
Anna 3
Caroline 3
Christian 3
Elinor 3
Kate 3
Lizzie 3
Louisa 3
Lydia 3
Sophia 3
Cath. 2
Catharine 2
Elizabett 2
Elizth. 2
Ellinor 2
Euphemia 2
Fanny 2
Francis 2
Helena 2
Issabella 2
Maggie 2
Minnie 2
Susannah 2
William 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 90
William 80
Thomas 67
Robert 48
James 31
Edward 20
Charles 17
Richard 15
Joseph 14
Henry 13
George 12
Frederick 10
Alfred 9
Wm. 6
Daniel 4
Herbert 4
Robt. 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Lewis 3
Norris 3
Philip 3
Phillip 3
Samuel 3
Cyril 2
David 2
Edw. 2
Edwin 2
Isaac 2
Thos. 2
Allen 1
Amelia 1
Bramwell 1
Ceasar 1
Chas. 1
Edith 1
Edwd. 1
Edwd.Robert 1
Enos 1
Evan 1
Even 1
Fredk.S. 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Jas.Hy. 1
Jno 1
Johnnie 1
Jos. 1
Louis 1
Wm.Joseph 1

FAQ

Clague surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clague surname in 1881?

In 1881, 184 people were recorded with the Clague surname. That placed it at #13,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clague surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 592 in 2016. That gives Clague a modern rank of #8,814.

What does the Clague surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from the Manx word "klieau" meaning ravine or gully.

What does the Clague map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clague 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.