UK surname
A surname possibly derived from a place name in Ireland.
In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Claney surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #29,363 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Claney is 388 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.7%.
1881 census count
30
Ranked #29,363
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1891
388 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Claney surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Claney surname density by area, 1911 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 | 150 | #12,905 |
| 1861 | historical | 226 | #10,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 30 | #29,363 |
| 1891 | historical | 388 | #9,104 |
| 1901 | historical | 117 | #20,830 |
| 1911 | historical | 284 | #11,862 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth and St Marylebone. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Claney 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 Claney, 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 Claney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Claney 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, Claney 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 Claney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Claney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Claney is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Clonaigh" or "O'Cloney," which means "descendant of Clonagh." The name is believed to have originated in County Donegal, Ireland, around the 11th or 12th century.
The Claney name can be traced back to the ancient Irish clan system, where families and communities were organized around clans and septs. The Clonagh clan was likely based in the Donegal region, and the surname Claney evolved as a variant of the original Gaelic name over time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Claney surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The Annals mention a "Donnell O'Cloney" who was involved in a conflict in 1487.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, variations of the name, such as "Cloney" and "Clunie," appeared in historical records and manuscripts from County Donegal. Some notable individuals from this period include John Cloney (c. 1550-1620), a Catholic priest and scholar, and Hugh Cloney (c. 1580-1640), a landowner and member of the Irish gentry.
As the Claney family spread across Ireland and beyond, the name took on various spellings, including "Clanny," "Clanney," and "Clooney." One of the most famous bearers of the name was Brian Clooney (1920-2002), an Irish actor and comedian who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career.
Other historical figures with the Claney surname include William Claney (1786-1859), an Irish-born businessman and politician who served as Mayor of Toronto, Canada, in the 1840s, and Michael Claney (1833-1912), an Irish-American Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in the United States.
The Claney name has a rich history and can be traced back to the ancient clans of Ireland, with various spelling variations and notable individuals contributing to its legacy over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Claney 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. Staffordshire leads with 7 Claneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 7 | 7.33x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 9.51x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 12.32x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 1.06x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 7.92x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.60x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 2.03x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.73x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.09x |
| Somerset | 1 | 2.20x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.73x |
| Sussex | 1 | 2.10x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 4.00x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Bromwich in Staffordshire leads with 7 Claneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.21x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| West Bromwich | 7 | 128.21x |
| Berwick Upon Tweed | 4 | 449.44x |
| Crosscanonby | 3 | 370.37x |
| South Leith | 3 | 70.42x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 2 | 37.52x |
| St George In East London | 2 | 75.19x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 51.55x |
| Cardiff St John | 1 | 62.11x |
| Clevedon | 1 | 212.77x |
| Govan | 1 | 4.42x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 4.06x |
| Preston | 1 | 120.48x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 6.62x |
| Trowbridge | 1 | 90.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Claney 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 Claney 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 Claney households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Mason | 2 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| French Agent | 1 |
| General Servt | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Iron Works Labourer | 1 |
| Lce Corpl Infantry | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Puddler | 1 |
| Religious (Nuns) | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Claney surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Claney a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname possibly derived from a place name in Ireland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Claney 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.