NameCensus.

UK surname

Claire

A surname derived from the French word meaning "bright" or "clear."

In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Claire surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 366, ranked #12,690, up from #30,215 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redbridge, Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Claire is 366 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1425.0%.

1881 census count

24

Ranked #30,215

Modern count

366

2016, ranked #12,690

Peak year

2016

366 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Claire had 24 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,215 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016, ranked #12,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 90 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Claire surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Claire surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Claire 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 90 #22,312
1881 historical 24 #30,215
1891 historical 60 #29,204
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 41 #28,802
1997 modern 202 #17,514
1998 modern 205 #17,850
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 209 #17,723
2001 modern 197 #18,108
2002 modern 217 #17,388
2003 modern 221 #16,987
2004 modern 204 #17,992
2005 modern 220 #17,078
2006 modern 225 #16,941
2007 modern 246 #16,086
2008 modern 258 #15,732
2009 modern 266 #15,711
2010 modern 286 #15,231
2011 modern 283 #15,193
2012 modern 305 #14,357
2013 modern 323 #14,003
2014 modern 342 #13,498
2015 modern 340 #13,455
2016 modern 366 #12,690

Geography

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Where Claires are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redbridge, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Maidstone. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redbridge 030 Redbridge
2 Birmingham 060 Birmingham
3 Wolverhampton 026 Wolverhampton
4 Coventry 019 Coventry
5 Maidstone 002 Maidstone

Forenames

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First names often paired with Claire

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Claire

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Claire surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Claire household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Claire is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Claire 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

Claire falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Claire is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Claire

The surname Claire is of French origin, originating from the Old French word "cler" which means "bright" or "clear." It is believed to have emerged as a surname in the northern regions of France, particularly in the areas of Normandy and Brittany, sometime during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Claire can be traced back to the 13th century. In a document from 1274, a certain "Robert de Claire" was mentioned as a landowner in the village of Bréhal, located in the Normandy region of France. This suggests that the name was already established as a surname by that time.

In the late 14th century, the surname Claire appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the "Livre des Bourgeois de Rouen," a register of citizens in the city of Rouen, where several individuals with the surname Claire were listed.

During the 15th century, the surname Claire gained further prominence, with notable figures such as Jean Claire (c. 1400-1470), a renowned French architect who designed several churches and châteaux in the Loire Valley region.

Another historical figure bearing the surname Claire was Marguerite Claire (1492-1547), a French noblewoman and courtier at the court of King Francis I. She played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of Renaissance France.

In the 17th century, the surname Claire was associated with several prominent individuals, including Pierre Claire (1614-1684), a French mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the development of calculus.

The 18th century saw the rise of Jacques-Joseph Claire (1736-1805), a French painter known for his portraits and historical scenes. His works can be found in various museums across Europe, including the Louvre in Paris.

As the surname Claire spread throughout France and beyond, it also evolved into various spellings and variations, such as Clerc, Clair, and Clere, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic influences.

It is worth noting that the surname Claire is not exclusively French in origin, as it has also been adopted in other regions and countries, potentially through migration or cultural exchange. However, its roots can be firmly traced back to the northern regions of France, where it emerged as a distinct surname during the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Claire families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Claire 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. Lancashire leads with 10 Claires recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.60x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 3.60x
Middlesex 3 1.28x
Angus 2 9.23x
Cheshire 2 3.87x
Buckinghamshire 1 7.07x
Dorset 1 6.51x
Essex 1 2.17x
Northamptonshire 1 4.54x
Surrey 1 0.88x
Sussex 1 2.53x
Yorkshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 7 Claires recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.13x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 7 78.13x
Lochee 2 1052.63x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 47.85x
Croydon 1 15.80x
Fulmer 1 3333.33x
Hammersmith London 1 17.36x
Hulme 1 17.24x
Islington London 1 4.41x
Kensington London 1 7.69x
Knutsford Nether 1 322.58x
Leyton Low 1 106.38x
Northampton Priory St 1 75.76x
Pagham 1 1428.57x
Radipole 1 909.09x
Stockport 1 37.59x
Thornton In Bradford 1 129.87x
West Derby 1 12.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Sophia 2
Amy 1
Annie 1
Betty 1
Claire 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellen 1
Jane 1
Lacealia 1
Marie 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
John 3
Charles 1
Harry 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Claire households.

FAQ

Claire surname: questions and answers

How common was the Claire surname in 1881?

In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Claire surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Claire surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016. That gives Claire a modern rank of #12,690.

What does the Claire surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word meaning "bright" or "clear."

What does the Claire map show?

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