NameCensus.

UK surname

Clery

A French surname possibly derived from the Old French word "clergé" meaning clergy or cleric.

In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Clery surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 108, ranked #29,578, down from #26,134 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clery is 110 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 103.8%.

1881 census count

53

Ranked #26,134

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

2015

110 bearers

Map years

3

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clery had 53 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,134 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 103 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Clery surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clery surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clery 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 38 #26,502
1861 historical 48 #27,896
1881 historical 53 #26,134
1891 historical 55 #29,744
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 53 #27,508
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 105 #27,035
2000 modern 88 #29,284
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 89 #29,428
2003 modern 87 #29,615
2004 modern 83 #30,352
2005 modern 83 #30,486
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 85 #30,954
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 93 #31,169
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Clerys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset, Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire, South Holland and Wandsworth. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 003 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Cambridge 011 Cambridge
3 South Cambridgeshire 015 South Cambridgeshire
4 South Holland 008 South Holland
5 Wandsworth 020 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clery

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clery

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Clery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Clery household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Clery is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clery is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clery falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clery 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Clery

The surname CLERY has its origins in France, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "clerc," which means "cleric" or "scholar." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who were associated with the clergy or had received a formal education.

The name CLERY is closely linked to the town of Cléry-Saint-André, located in the Loiret department of north-central France. It is believed that the surname originated from this region and was adopted by families residing in or near this town. The town's name itself is derived from the Latin word "clarus," meaning "bright" or "illustrious," further reinforcing the scholarly connotations of the surname.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the CLERY surname can be found in the Cartulaire de Saint-Père de Chartres, a medieval cartulary or collection of charters and deeds from the Chartres region of France, dating back to the 12th century. This record provides evidence of the surname's existence and usage during that time period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname CLERY. One such person was Michel Clery (1550-1624), a French Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Nantes from 1598 until his death. Another prominent figure was Jean-Baptiste Clery (1759-1793), the valet and trusted servant of King Louis XVI of France during the French Revolution.

In the field of literature, the surname is associated with François Clery (1637-1696), a French dramatist and poet who was a member of the Académie Française. His works, including plays and poems, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Eugène Clery (1813-1901), a French artist known for his landscape paintings and etchings. His works were exhibited at the Paris Salon and are now part of the collections of several museums in France.

Another notable figure is Joseph Clery (1804-1870), a French military officer and explorer who participated in several expeditions to Africa and the Middle East. He made significant contributions to the exploration and mapping of these regions in the mid-19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clery 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. Middlesex leads with 13 Clerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 2.30x
Lancashire 12 1.79x
Lanarkshire 7 3.83x
Channel Islands 5 29.83x
Northumberland 5 5.94x
Warwickshire 5 3.51x
Yorkshire 4 0.71x
Sussex 3 3.15x
Angus 1 1.91x
Argyllshire 1 6.35x
Ayrshire 1 2.36x
Royal Navy 1 14.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ardwick in Lancashire leads with 6 Clerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 99.17x.

Place Total Index
Ardwick 6 99.17x
Glasgow 6 18.47x
Birmingham 5 10.52x
St Peter Port 5 161.29x
Tynemouth 5 110.86x
Bury 4 52.15x
Islington London 4 7.30x
Manningham 3 43.48x
Ditton 2 740.74x
St Botolph Aldgate London 2 172.41x
St George Hanover Square 2 20.08x
Subdeanary 2 769.23x
Blantyre 1 52.63x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 81.30x
Ealing 1 19.80x
Kilmarnock 1 19.84x
Montrose 1 31.45x
Paddington London 1 4.81x
Playden 1 1666.67x
Royal Navy 1 17.36x
Sheffield 1 5.61x
Spitalfields London 1 23.53x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 175.44x
Westminster St James 1 17.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 3
Jane 3
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Ada 1
Adolphine 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Eileen 1
Eliza 1
Florence 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Polly 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Edward 2
George 2
James 2
Arthur 1
Enilleton 1
Henry 1
M. 1
Michael 1
Owen 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

Top occupations

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 Clery households.

FAQ

Clery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Clery surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Clery a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Clery surname mean?

A French surname possibly derived from the Old French word "clergé" meaning clergy or cleric.

What does the Clery map show?

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