UK surname
From the Latin "clarus" meaning bright or clear, originating as a surname for someone with a bright, striking appearance.
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Clara surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, 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 Clara is 192 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 200.0%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1861
192 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Clara surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Clara 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 | 32 | #27,570 |
| 1861 | historical | 192 | #12,423 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 145 | #18,752 |
| 1901 | historical | 49 | #28,696 |
| 1911 | historical | 98 | #22,959 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 39 | #35,451 |
| 2011 | modern | 42 | #35,283 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 40 | #35,439 |
| 2014 | modern | 39 | #35,493 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth and Liverpool. 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 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Clara 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 Clara, 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 Clara surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Clara 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, Clara 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 Clara is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Clara, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Clara is of Spanish origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "clarus," meaning "clear" or "bright." The name likely originated in the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period.
In Spain, the surname Clara was often associated with individuals from the region of Catalonia, where the name was particularly prevalent. It is believed that some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in medieval documents and records from this area.
One notable historical reference to the surname Clara is in the "Libro de Repartimiento de Mallorca," a document from the 13th century that recorded the distribution of land and property on the island of Mallorca after its conquest by the Crown of Aragon. Several individuals with the surname Clara are listed in this document, suggesting the name's presence in the region during that time.
The surname Clara is also found in other parts of Spain, as well as in Latin America, where it was carried by Spanish settlers and colonists. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Juan de Clara, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru in the 16th century.
Other notable individuals with the surname Clara include:
1. Pedro Clara (c. 1525 - c. 1590), a Spanish painter and sculptor active in the Renaissance period. 2. Gaspar de Clara (1616 - 1686), a Spanish playwright and poet during the Golden Age of Spanish literature. 3. María Clara (1785 - 1874), a Venezuelan writer and educator who played an important role in promoting women's education in her country. 4. Antonio Clara (1859 - 1927), a Spanish artist and painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes. 5. Josefa Clara (1920 - 2005), a Mexican actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career.
While the surname Clara has its roots in Spain and the Iberian Peninsula, it has since spread across the globe and can be found in various countries and cultures, reflecting the migration and diaspora of Spanish-speaking populations over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clara 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. Yorkshire leads with 7 Claras recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 7 | 4.53x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 2.70x |
| Fife | 1 | 10.83x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 3.13x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.32x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 2.54x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Salford in Lancashire leads with 4 Claras recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.53x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Salford | 4 | 73.53x |
| Leeds | 3 | 34.36x |
| Richmond | 3 | 1250.00x |
| Betchworth | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 7.63x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 68.03x |
| Kirkcaldy | 1 | 217.39x |
| Manningham | 1 | 52.63x |
| Millbrook | 1 | 123.46x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clara 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 Clara 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 Clara households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Drover | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic | 1 |
| Slater | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Clara surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Clara a modern rank of #35,004.
From the Latin "clarus" meaning bright or clear, originating as a surname for someone with a bright, striking appearance.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clara 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.