UK surname
A variant spelling of the English occupational surname "Clark" meaning clerk or scribe.
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Clarck surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22, ranked #36,533, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme and Thornton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clarck is 213 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.6%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
22
2016, ranked #36,533
Peak year
1861
213 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Clarck surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Clarck surname density by area, 1861 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 | 207 | #10,148 |
| 1861 | historical | 213 | #11,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 65 | #28,660 |
| 1901 | historical | 35 | #30,194 |
| 1911 | historical | 38 | #29,147 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 9 | #37,302 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 14 | #37,041 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 14 | #37,115 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 22 | #36,533 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme, Thornton, Creich and Bradford. 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 | Tipton otherwise Tibington | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | Thornton | Leicestershire |
| 4 | Creich | Sutherland |
| 5 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Clarck 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 Clarck, 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 Clarck surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Clarck 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, Clarck 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 Clarck is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Clarck, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "CLARCK" is derived from the Latin name "Clericus", which means "clerk" or "cleric". It is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The name was initially given to individuals who were employed as clerks or scribes, often in religious or government institutions. These clerks were responsible for keeping records, writing documents, and performing administrative tasks.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, several variations of the name were recorded, including "Clericus", "Clerke", and "Clerk".
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "CLARCK" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named "Hugh Clarck" was mentioned. This spelling variation likely emerged due to regional dialects and differences in pronunciation.
During the 13th century, the name "CLARCK" became more common as it spread to different parts of England, sometimes associated with specific place names. For example, the surname "Clarke of Saltwood" referred to individuals from the village of Saltwood in Kent.
Notable individuals with the surname "CLARCK" throughout history include:
1. John Clarke (1609-1676), a Baptist minister and co-founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. 2. Samuel Clarke (1675-1729), an English philosopher and theologian, known for his work on the cosmological argument for the existence of God. 3. William Clarke (1770-1838), an English explorer and navigator who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the western United States. 4. Mary Ann Clarck (1786-1865), an English novelist and writer, best known for her novel "The Rivals of Acadia". 5. Edwin Clarck (1814-1894), an American architect who designed several notable buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Smithsonian Institution Building.
While the surname "CLARCK" has evolved over time and has been spelled differently in various regions, it remains a prominent name with a rich history rooted in the medieval clerks and scribes of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clarck 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. Shetland leads with 27 Clarcks recorded in 1881 and an index of 301.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shetland | 27 | 301.00x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.10x |
| Durham | 8 | 3.06x |
| Northumberland | 8 | 6.13x |
| Suffolk | 8 | 7.48x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 3.56x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.38x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.46x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 3.38x |
| Somerset | 3 | 2.12x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.35x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.23x |
| Anglesey | 1 | 6.43x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.73x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.74x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 4.24x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.58x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.35x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Delting in Shetland leads with 27 Clarcks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5400.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Delting | 27 | 5400.00x |
| Bedlington | 8 | 183.49x |
| Stoke By Clare | 6 | 4615.38x |
| Camberwell | 5 | 8.92x |
| Basford | 4 | 73.39x |
| Evenwood Barony | 4 | 449.44x |
| Kirkdale | 4 | 22.83x |
| Frieston | 3 | 909.09x |
| South Shields | 3 | 128.76x |
| Brighton | 2 | 6.70x |
| Elstead | 2 | 952.38x |
| Fishtoft | 2 | 714.29x |
| Little Thurlow | 2 | 2000.00x |
| Rotherhithe | 2 | 18.43x |
| Spitalfields London | 2 | 30.30x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 4.46x |
| Chew Magna | 1 | 200.00x |
| Frome | 1 | 29.59x |
| Govan | 1 | 1.42x |
| Holyhead | 1 | 34.48x |
| Ilkeston | 1 | 25.97x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.05x |
| Kinson | 1 | 88.50x |
| Kirkintilloch | 1 | 31.25x |
| Monquhitter | 1 | 119.05x |
| Northowram | 1 | 16.39x |
| Prittlewell | 1 | 41.67x |
| Puxton | 1 | 2500.00x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 19.84x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clarck 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 Clarck 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 Clarck households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| A B Seaman | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Bricklayer Labourer | 1 |
| Coal Mine Putter | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Coal Miner(Sinker) | 1 |
| Collector Clerk | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Engine Driver | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Fish Hawker | 1 |
| Garden Labourer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Glazier | 1 |
| Innkeeper | 1 |
| Kitchen Maid | 1 |
| Labourer Farm | 1 |
| Lamp Lighter | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Laundress (Ws) | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
| Stoker | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Clarck surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 22 in 2016. That gives Clarck a modern rank of #36,533.
A variant spelling of the English occupational surname "Clark" meaning clerk or scribe.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clarck 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.