NameCensus.

UK surname

Clee

Of Anglo-Saxon origin, a surname referring to a place located near a hill or slope.

In the 1881 census there were 628 people recorded with the Clee surname, ranking it #5,639 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 919, ranked #6,208, down from #5,639 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Tipton otherwise Tibington and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, Dudley and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clee is 946 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.3%.

1881 census count

628

Ranked #5,639

Modern count

919

2016, ranked #6,208

Peak year

2000

946 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clee had 628 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,639 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 919 in 2016, ranked #6,208.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 874 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Clee surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clee surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clee 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 415 #5,850
1861 historical 359 #7,113
1881 historical 628 #5,639
1891 historical 726 #5,450
1901 historical 835 #5,436
1911 historical 874 #5,088
1997 modern 896 #5,983
1998 modern 930 #6,004
1999 modern 940 #5,999
2000 modern 946 #5,942
2001 modern 924 #5,959
2002 modern 927 #6,059
2003 modern 902 #6,074
2004 modern 907 #6,059
2005 modern 893 #6,063
2006 modern 892 #6,090
2007 modern 892 #6,127
2008 modern 890 #6,179
2009 modern 903 #6,247
2010 modern 914 #6,316
2011 modern 940 #6,113
2012 modern 906 #6,220
2013 modern 932 #6,181
2014 modern 937 #6,195
2015 modern 922 #6,215
2016 modern 919 #6,208

Geography

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Where Clees are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Tipton otherwise Tibington, Dudley, Rowley Regis and Halifax. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell, Dudley, Powys, Wyre Forest and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
5 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 035 Sandwell
2 Dudley 005 Dudley
3 Powys 011 Powys
4 Wyre Forest 002 Wyre Forest
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 008 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clee

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clee

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Clee surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Clee household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Clee is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clee is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clee falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clee is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Clee

The surname Clee has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a geographical place name, specifically referring to the Clee Hills, a range of hills located in Shropshire. The name may have originated as a descriptive term for individuals residing near or associated with these hills.

During the 13th century, the name Clee appeared in various historical records and documents from the region. One notable mention is found in the 1275 Hundred Rolls of Shropshire, where it is recorded as "de Clee." This suggests that the name was initially used as a locative surname, indicating a person's place of origin or residence.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Clee dates back to the late 13th century, when a John de Clee was documented in the Shropshire Assize Rolls of 1292. This demonstrates that the name was well-established in the area by that time.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Clee has undergone slight variations in spelling, such as Clees, Cleese, and Cleyes, reflecting regional dialect differences and scribal variations of the time. However, the core form of the name has remained relatively consistent.

One notable figure bearing the surname Clee was John Clee, a prominent English clergyman born in 1556 in Shropshire. He served as the Archdeacon of Stafford and held various ecclesiastical positions within the Church of England.

Another individual of note was Sir Henry Clee, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a landowner and Member of Parliament for Shropshire in the early 1600s, demonstrating the surname's association with local prominence and influence.

In the 18th century, the name Clee gained further recognition with Thomas Clee (1710-1783), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Shropshire.

The 19th century saw the birth of William Clee (1840-1918), a respected English botanist and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in his native Shropshire region.

Additionally, the name Clee has been associated with various place names in Shropshire, such as Clee St. Margaret and Clee Stanton, further reinforcing its geographic origins and ties to the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clee families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clee 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. Shropshire leads with 107 Clees recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.15x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 107 20.15x
Staffordshire 101 4.87x
Worcestershire 72 8.97x
Warwickshire 65 4.19x
Glamorgan 51 4.77x
Yorkshire 43 0.71x
Herefordshire 26 10.32x
Lancashire 19 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 18 4.62x
Gloucestershire 18 1.49x
Middlesex 17 0.28x
Brecknockshire 16 13.02x
Radnorshire 16 32.27x
Monmouthshire 14 3.15x
Oxfordshire 10 2.64x
Surrey 9 0.30x
Essex 8 0.66x
Devon 5 0.39x
Dorset 3 0.74x
Derbyshire 2 0.21x
Kent 2 0.10x
Lanarkshire 2 0.10x
Northamptonshire 2 0.35x
Royal Navy 2 2.73x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 38 Clees recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.90x.

Place Total Index
Aston 38 8.90x
Halifax 27 30.20x
Rowley Regis 27 46.70x
Kidderminster Borough 22 46.84x
Tipton 22 34.63x
Birmingham 20 3.87x
Llanguick 20 104.33x
Cainham 16 650.41x
Lower Ystradgynlais 16 211.08x
St Andrewthe Less 13 29.23x
Ystradyfodwg 13 13.85x
Cheltenham 12 12.90x
Dudley 12 12.30x
Kingswinford 12 15.93x
Knighton 11 274.31x
Llanfair Waterdine 10 854.70x
Aston Cote 8 533.33x
Lyonshall 8 437.16x
Bowling 7 11.60x
Feckenham 7 76.25x
Kenley 7 1521.74x
Liverpool 7 1.58x
Ludlow St Lawrence 7 66.29x
Wednesbury 7 13.50x
Hanbury 6 276.50x
Lindridge 6 295.57x
Llanwonno 6 15.60x
Merthyr Tydfil 6 5.83x
Norbury 6 759.49x
Oldham 6 2.55x
Wolverhampton 6 3.76x
Woolstaston 6 3000.00x
Bilston 5 12.44x
Clunbury 5 241.55x
Kingston On Thames 5 6.95x
Shifnal 5 34.70x
St Marylebone London 5 1.52x
Stanton Lacy 5 108.93x
Walsall Foreign 5 4.67x
Willenhall 5 12.87x
Abergavenny 4 24.04x
Aberystruth 4 10.21x
Bishops Castle Out 4 366.97x
Bromley London 4 2.96x
Clun Eddycliff 4 400.00x
Eardisland 4 243.90x
Great Malvern 4 23.89x
Leintwardine 4 487.80x
Northowram 4 9.37x
Saffron Walden 4 31.20x
St Clement Cambridge 4 248.45x
Upper Penn 4 76.92x
Wellington 4 13.40x
Bedwellty 3 3.82x
Broseley 3 31.81x
Camberwell 3 0.76x
Clifton 3 4.92x
Heston 3 14.70x
Inkberrow 3 92.59x
Kinver 3 50.17x
Leintwardine 3 116.73x
Little Hereford 3 337.08x
Llandaff 3 8.43x
Llanfihangel Beguildy 3 143.54x
Marske In Guisbrough 3 27.75x
Much Wenlock 3 61.22x
Smethcott 3 500.00x
Trevethin 3 7.15x
Washfield 3 357.14x
Westbury On Severn East 3 11.01x
Wool 3 280.37x
Worcester All Sts 3 64.52x
Cradley 2 27.55x
Diddlebury 2 114.29x
Pembridge 2 71.94x
Pershore Holy Cross 2 38.91x
Royal Navy 2 3.19x
Swansea Town 2 2.28x
Wanstead 2 9.42x
West Derby 2 0.94x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 54
John 37
Thomas 30
James 21
George 17
Richard 13
Henry 12
Edward 11
Alfred 10
Benjamin 9
Charles 9
Joseph 7
Albert 6
David 4
Edwin 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Herbert 3
Robert 3
Augustus 2
Geo. 2
Hezekiah 2
Mark 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Thos. 2
Thos.S. 2
Wm. 2
Benjaman 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Ephraim 1
Evan 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Iston 1
Jacob 1
Job 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Lot 1
Manasseh 1
Paul 1
Rees 1
Rufus 1

FAQ

Clee surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clee surname in 1881?

In 1881, 628 people were recorded with the Clee surname. That placed it at #5,639 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clee surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 919 in 2016. That gives Clee a modern rank of #6,208.

What does the Clee surname mean?

Of Anglo-Saxon origin, a surname referring to a place located near a hill or slope.

What does the Clee map show?

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