NameCensus.

UK surname

Clegg

From a place near a ravine, cliff, or steep hillside.

In the 1881 census there were 10,197 people recorded with the Clegg surname, ranking it #422 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,885, ranked #835, down from #422 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Whalley and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, Calderdale and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clegg is 11,867 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.7%.

1881 census count

10,197

Ranked #422

Modern count

7,885

2016, ranked #835

Peak year

1911

11,867 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clegg had 10,197 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #422 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,885 in 2016, ranked #835.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11,867 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Clegg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clegg surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clegg 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 6,900 #403
1861 historical 6,389 #437
1881 historical 10,197 #422
1891 historical 10,201 #434
1901 historical 11,193 #469
1911 historical 11,867 #413
1997 modern 8,400 #761
1998 modern 8,654 #762
1999 modern 8,706 #765
2000 modern 8,685 #766
2001 modern 8,431 #769
2002 modern 8,493 #782
2003 modern 8,307 #784
2004 modern 8,236 #789
2005 modern 8,137 #785
2006 modern 8,134 #786
2007 modern 8,153 #793
2008 modern 8,104 #802
2009 modern 8,203 #810
2010 modern 8,346 #811
2011 modern 8,162 #819
2012 modern 7,957 #822
2013 modern 8,004 #835
2014 modern 8,031 #833
2015 modern 7,956 #832
2016 modern 7,885 #835

Geography

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Where Cleggs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Whalley, Halifax and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, Calderdale and Rochdale. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Whalley Lancashire
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 009 Rossendale
2 Rossendale 010 Rossendale
3 Calderdale 025 Calderdale
4 Rochdale 003 Rochdale
5 Rochdale 001 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clegg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clegg

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Clegg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Clegg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Clegg is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Clegg is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clegg falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clegg 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 Clegg, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Clegg

The surname Clegg originated in England and dates back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "claeg" or "cleg," which referred to a type of biting fly or a small hillock.

The Clegg surname was first recorded in Lancashire, where it was particularly prevalent in the areas around Manchester and Bolton. It is believed that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for someone who lived near a hillock or was known for their persistence, akin to a biting fly.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Clegg surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Clegge" in the county of Lancashire. This historical document provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across England at the time.

In the 13th century, records show the name Clegg being used in various forms, such as "de Cleg" and "atte Clegge," reflecting the evolution of surnames during that period. The "de" and "atte" prefixes indicated a person's association with a particular place or feature.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the Clegg surname include John Clegg (1585-1658), an English Puritan clergyman and religious writer; Samuel Clegg (1781-1861), a British industrialist and inventor of the atmospheric railway; and Sir John Clegg (1876-1952), a British businessman and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of Manchester.

Another significant figure was Samuel Bamford Clegg (1828-1905), a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of the cotton industry. He held several patents for textile machinery and was recognized for his innovative work.

In the realm of literature, the surname Clegg gained prominence through the works of British author and playwright Samuel Clegg (1781-1861), known for his plays and novels set in the industrial towns of Lancashire.

The Clegg surname has a rich history that spans centuries, with its origins rooted in the Old English language and its earliest records found in the Domesday Book. While the name may have evolved over time, it continues to be associated with its English heritage and the areas around Lancashire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clegg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clegg 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. Lancashire leads with 6,116 Cleggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.18x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 6,116 5.18x
Yorkshire 2,801 2.84x
Cheshire 355 1.62x
Middlesex 233 0.23x
Surrey 113 0.23x
Durham 80 0.27x
Kent 70 0.21x
Derbyshire 38 0.24x
Devon 36 0.17x
Essex 30 0.15x
Hampshire 28 0.14x
Staffordshire 25 0.07x
Warwickshire 24 0.10x
Lanarkshire 23 0.07x
Lincolnshire 21 0.13x
Northumberland 19 0.13x
Ayrshire 18 0.24x
Cumberland 15 0.18x
Berkshire 13 0.17x
Westmorland 13 0.59x
Gloucestershire 10 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.07x
Somerset 10 0.06x
Channel Islands 8 0.27x
Sussex 8 0.05x
Inverness-shire 7 0.24x
Denbighshire 6 0.16x
Isle of Man 6 0.32x
Northamptonshire 6 0.06x
Flintshire 5 0.19x
Hertfordshire 5 0.07x
Oxfordshire 5 0.08x
Brecknockshire 4 0.20x
Cornwall 4 0.04x
Glamorgan 4 0.02x
Leicestershire 3 0.03x
Renfrewshire 3 0.04x
Angus 2 0.02x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.09x
Midlothian 2 0.02x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.06x
Wiltshire 2 0.02x
Argyllshire 1 0.04x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.02x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.02x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.04x
Merionethshire 1 0.05x
Monmouthshire 1 0.01x
Roxburghshire 1 0.06x
Rutland 1 0.14x
Shropshire 1 0.01x
Stirlingshire 1 0.03x
West Lothian 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 528 Cleggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.86x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 528 13.86x
Spotland 513 39.10x
Castleton 382 32.41x
Butterworth 284 98.77x
Burnley 276 27.77x
Wardleworth 263 38.99x
Batley 179 19.11x
Habergham Eaves 165 15.30x
Manchester 163 3.07x
Dewsbury 160 15.83x
Accrington 156 14.54x
Great Little Marsden 142 26.26x
Newchurch 128 13.26x
Oswaldtwistle 119 28.54x
Heap 118 18.85x
Bury 112 8.31x
Ashton Under Lyne 100 3.88x
Wuerdle Wardle 90 25.12x
Blatchinworth 88 32.75x
West Derby 87 2.52x
Salford 86 2.48x
Sowerby In Halifax 84 26.06x
Stainland Cum Old 83 49.21x
Great Bolton 76 4.86x
Halifax 76 5.25x
Huddersfield 75 5.22x
Stansfield 75 20.68x
Liverpool 72 1.00x
Over Darwen 72 7.64x
Todmorden Walsden 68 21.51x
Blackburn 66 2.10x
Crompton 66 19.64x
Hulme 64 2.60x
Bradford 63 2.64x
Chadderton 60 10.40x
Horton In Bradford 60 3.90x
Dukinfield 57 5.62x
Little Bolton 57 3.76x
Toxteth Park 56 1.40x
Chorlton On Medlock 55 2.93x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 53 15.05x
Preston 50 1.58x
Liversedge 49 11.17x
Northowram 49 7.09x
Radcliffe 48 8.44x
Mirfield 46 8.50x
North Bierley 46 8.64x
Leeds 45 0.81x
Manningham 45 3.71x
Soothill 45 12.64x
Morley 44 8.59x
Pendleton In Salford 44 3.13x
Rochdale 44 51.12x
Barnsley 43 4.23x
Hunslet 43 2.80x
Barton Upon Irwell 41 4.61x
Bowling 39 4.00x
Elland Cum Greetland 38 8.56x
Everton 37 0.98x
Langfield 37 21.46x
Stockport 36 3.19x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 35 9.78x
Ecclesall Bierlow 33 1.65x
Saddleworth 33 4.34x
Colne 32 9.10x
Erringden 32 50.26x
Heckmondwike 31 9.78x
Hipperholme Cum 31 7.16x
Lepton 31 30.11x
Wortley In Bramley 31 3.97x
Castleford 29 8.08x
Gomersal 29 6.30x
Islington London 29 0.30x
Warrington 29 2.07x
Wath On Dearne 29 14.75x
Barrow In Furness 28 1.74x
Cheetham 28 3.18x
Hyde 28 4.32x
Skircoat 28 7.20x
Newton 27 2.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 835
Sarah 534
Elizabeth 382
Ann 225
Alice 219
Jane 208
Hannah 183
Martha 148
Emma 147
Annie 146
Ellen 134
Margaret 133
Eliza 109
Emily 84
Betty 82
Edith 57
Ada 55
Maria 52
Nancy 49
Harriet 45
Catherine 39
Esther 38
Isabella 38
Susannah 38
Clara 36
Florence 36
Louisa 36
Betsy 34
Frances 31
Harriett 30
Charlotte 29
Susan 29
Amelia 27
Grace 27
Agnes 26
Lucy 26
Fanny 25
Caroline 24
Elizth. 24
Bertha 22
Gertrude 20
Amy 19
Anne 18
Rachel 18
Ruth 18
Rebecca 17
Ethel 16
Kate 16
Sophia 16
Rose 12

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 686
William 490
James 481
Thomas 312
Joseph 253
George 198
Robert 167
Charles 125
Samuel 120
Henry 112
Edward 94
Arthur 92
Richard 77
Alfred 65
Abraham 63
Albert 62
Harry 62
Walter 61
Edmund 53
Benjamin 52
Herbert 47
Fred 42
Ernest 40
Joshua 38
Edwin 31
Wm. 31
David 30
Frederick 29
Jonathan 28
Tom 27
Frank 24
Sam 21
Isaac 19
Daniel 16
Joe 14
Peter 14
Francis 13
Willie 13
Jonas 12
Thos. 11
Jesse 10
Percy 10
Ralph 10
Sidney 10
Ellis 9
Matthew 9
Amos 8
Eli 8
Harold 8
Josiah 8

FAQ

Clegg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clegg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10,197 people were recorded with the Clegg surname. That placed it at #422 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clegg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,885 in 2016. That gives Clegg a modern rank of #835.

What does the Clegg surname mean?

From a place near a ravine, cliff, or steep hillside.

What does the Clegg map show?

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