UK surname
A surname derived from the Spanish word "clase" meaning "class" or "category".
In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Clase surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #28,837 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Paignton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clase is 110 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.2%.
1881 census count
34
Ranked #28,837
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1861
110 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Clase surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Clase 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 | 56 | #23,235 |
| 1861 | historical | 110 | #19,562 |
| 1881 | historical | 34 | #28,837 |
| 1891 | historical | 96 | #24,559 |
| 1901 | historical | 61 | #27,379 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Paignton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bedford St Paul. 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 | Paignton | Devon |
| 2 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 3 | Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin | Devon |
| 4 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | Bedford St Paul | Bedfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Clase 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 Clase, 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 Clase surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Clase 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, Clase 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 Clase is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Clase, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Clase originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "klasse," which means "class" or "category." This suggests that the name may have been associated with a particular social class or occupation.
One of the earliest known references to the Clase surname can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the city of Magdeburg, in the former East Germany. These records mention a family by the name of Clase living in the area in the mid-1500s.
Another early record of the Clase name appears in the Ortsfamilienbücher (local family books) of the town of Neustadt am Rübenberge, located in Lower Saxony, Germany. These records document the presence of a Clase family in the town as early as the late 16th century.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Clase surname began to spread to other regions of Germany, as well as neighboring countries such as Austria and Switzerland. One notable individual with this surname was Johann Gottfried Clase (1644-1712), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Jena.
In the 19th century, the Clase name can be found in various German records, including birth, marriage, and death registers. Some examples of notable individuals with this surname during this period include:
1. Wilhelm Clase (1826-1899), a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Reichstag (Imperial Parliament). 2. Friedrich Clase (1855-1919), a German architect and builder who designed several prominent buildings in Berlin.
As German immigrants began to settle in other parts of the world, the Clase surname also spread to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. One notable example is Hans Clase (1901-1986), a German-born American artist and illustrator known for his work in various magazines and children's books.
Throughout its history, the Clase surname has maintained a strong presence in German-speaking regions, although it has also been carried to various other parts of the world through migration and immigration. While its exact origins remain uncertain, the name's association with the word "klasse" suggests a potential link to social class or occupation in its early development.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clase 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. Devon leads with 9 Clases recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.44x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 9 | 13.44x |
| Durham | 7 | 7.32x |
| Cornwall | 4 | 10.99x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.91x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 8.02x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.84x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 5.14x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 4.51x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.26x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.31x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 2.09x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.84x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Iveston in Durham leads with 7 Clases recorded in 1881 and an index of 1590.91x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Iveston | 7 | 1590.91x |
| Dartmouth St Petrox | 5 | 5000.00x |
| Stoke Damerel | 4 | 85.29x |
| Croydon | 3 | 34.48x |
| Bodmin | 2 | 333.33x |
| Greenock East | 2 | 20000.00x |
| Sedgley | 2 | 49.63x |
| St Mary Magdalene | 2 | 740.74x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 4.31x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 40.32x |
| Rottingdean | 1 | 526.32x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 19.53x |
| Upton Cum Chalvey | 1 | 129.87x |
| Watford | 1 | 58.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clase 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 Clase 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 Clase households.
FAQ
In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Clase surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Clase a modern rank of #38,419.
A surname derived from the Spanish word "clase" meaning "class" or "category".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clase 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.