NameCensus.

UK surname

Clinch

A surname derived from the Old English word meaning "to hold tightly or firmly clasp".

In the 1881 census there were 861 people recorded with the Clinch surname, ranking it #4,393 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 996, ranked #5,817, down from #4,393 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Dover and Tunbridge Wells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clinch is 1,235 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.7%.

1881 census count

861

Ranked #4,393

Modern count

996

2016, ranked #5,817

Peak year

1911

1,235 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clinch had 861 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,393 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 996 in 2016, ranked #5,817.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,235 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Clinch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clinch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clinch 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 570 #4,463
1861 historical 559 #4,715
1881 historical 861 #4,393
1891 historical 982 #4,208
1901 historical 1,173 #4,166
1911 historical 1,235 #3,827
1997 modern 1,043 #5,300
1998 modern 1,072 #5,368
1999 modern 1,078 #5,370
2000 modern 1,035 #5,525
2001 modern 1,039 #5,414
2002 modern 1,048 #5,473
2003 modern 1,032 #5,454
2004 modern 1,034 #5,462
2005 modern 1,025 #5,440
2006 modern 996 #5,585
2007 modern 1,000 #5,609
2008 modern 1,015 #5,583
2009 modern 1,019 #5,676
2010 modern 1,031 #5,731
2011 modern 1,036 #5,655
2012 modern 997 #5,749
2013 modern 1,005 #5,797
2014 modern 1,010 #5,813
2015 modern 997 #5,818
2016 modern 996 #5,817

Geography

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Where Clinchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto and Chilham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Dover, Tunbridge Wells, Swale and Bolton. 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 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto Oxfordshire
5 Chilham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 009 East Devon
2 Dover 011 Dover
3 Tunbridge Wells 002 Tunbridge Wells
4 Swale 016 Swale
5 Bolton 024 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clinch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clinch

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Clinch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Clinch 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Clinch is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clinch is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clinch falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Clinch

The surname Clinch has its origins in England, where it can be traced back to the 13th century. It is thought to derive from the Old English word "clench," meaning to hold or grasp firmly. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked as a blacksmith or metalworker, clenching or grasping hot metal with tongs or pliers.

In its earliest recorded form, the name appeared as "le Clenche" in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. These were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I. The spelling variations in early records include Clench, Clenche, Clynch, and Clynche, reflecting the evolution of the name over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Thomas le Clenche, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1275. Another early reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, which listed a John le Clenche.

The Clinch surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, and Somerset during the medieval period. It is possible that the name may have originated from a place name, as there are several locations in these counties with names derived from the Old English word "clench," such as Clench Green in Somerset.

Notable historical figures with the surname Clinch include:

1. Sir Lewis Clinch (1604-1661), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1660. 2. John Clinch (1620-1668), an English Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works. 3. Joseph Clinch (1743-1810), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a Rear Admiral. 4. Duncan Clinch (1787-1849), an American army officer who fought in the War of 1812 and the Seminole Wars. 5. Eliza Clinch (1804-1888), an English author and educator who wrote several books on educational subjects.

These examples demonstrate the long history and widespread distribution of the Clinch surname, originating from its Old English roots and evolving over the centuries across various regions of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clinch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clinch 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. Kent leads with 211 Clinchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.33x.

County Total Index
Kent 211 7.33x
Middlesex 131 1.55x
Oxfordshire 129 24.76x
Berkshire 55 8.68x
Lancashire 53 0.53x
Surrey 50 1.22x
Sussex 43 3.02x
Yorkshire 27 0.32x
Gloucestershire 24 1.45x
Devon 22 1.25x
Essex 18 1.08x
Buckinghamshire 14 2.74x
Somerset 14 1.03x
Wiltshire 14 1.88x
Cheshire 13 0.70x
Hampshire 12 0.69x
Warwickshire 9 0.42x
Cornwall 8 0.84x
Worcestershire 6 0.54x
Norfolk 4 0.31x
Isle of Man 3 1.91x
Dorset 2 0.36x
Denbighshire 1 0.31x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maidstone in Kent leads with 24 Clinchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.99x.

Place Total Index
Maidstone 24 27.99x
Chilham 23 560.98x
Bensington 22 662.65x
Aston Cote 20 975.61x
Bampton 18 446.65x
Rotherfield Greys 17 307.97x
Lambeth 15 2.04x
Pagham 14 557.77x
Chiswick 12 26.02x
Westbury 12 68.89x
Hackney London 11 2.33x
Islington London 11 1.35x
Taplow 11 358.31x
East West Hanney 10 401.61x
Halliwell 10 27.44x
Ilfracombe 10 55.31x
St Pancras London 10 1.47x
Abingdon St Helen 9 48.60x
Battersea 9 2.90x
Borden 9 246.58x
Great Bolton 9 6.79x
Manchester 9 2.00x
Northfleet 9 35.49x
Stockbury 9 502.79x
Willesden 9 11.32x
Brighton 8 2.79x
Camberwell 8 1.48x
Cheltenham 8 6.27x
Coggs 8 400.00x
Gravesend 8 32.83x
Reading St Giles 8 12.87x
Witney 8 91.85x
Aston 7 1.19x
Clerkenwell London 7 3.51x
Eastchurch 7 246.48x
Edmonton 7 10.30x
Leyton 7 24.40x
Newington In Milton 7 233.33x
Paddington London 7 2.26x
Reading St Mary 7 13.80x
St George Bloomsbury 7 14.46x
Taunton St James 7 35.34x
Tranmere 7 10.23x
Bermondsey 6 2.39x
Bradford 6 2.96x
Canterbury St Paul 6 116.05x
Chichester St Pancras 6 141.18x
Ensham 6 222.22x
Kensington London 6 1.28x
Middlesbrough 6 5.51x
Newbury 6 29.57x
Newington 6 1.92x
Ribbesford 6 65.43x
Sittingbourne 6 26.40x
St Marylebone London 6 1.33x
Stoke Damerel 6 4.88x
Subdeanery 6 55.61x
Thatcham 6 61.48x
Westminster St John 6 5.84x
Ashford 5 17.83x
Dartford 5 16.98x
Dover St Mary Virgin 5 17.95x
Eastling 5 359.71x
Everton 5 1.57x
Greenwich 5 3.72x
Henley On Thames 5 46.82x
Ickham Well 5 303.03x
Milton In Gravesend 5 11.58x
Norwood 5 25.92x
Tunstall 5 641.03x
West Ham 5 1.36x
West Wickham 5 179.86x
Westbury On Trym 5 8.92x
Bridgewater 4 10.85x
Canterbury St Dunstan 4 80.48x
Drayton 4 307.69x
Gillingham 4 6.74x
Langcliffe 4 200.00x
Lostock Gralam 4 178.57x
Wotton St Mary 4 46.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 54
James 40
John 38
Charles 28
George 26
Thomas 21
Arthur 16
Henry 16
Walter 15
Alfred 11
Frederick 11
Edward 9
Albert 8
Joseph 8
Robert 8
Ernest 6
Richard 6
Frank 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Christopher 4
Sidney 4
Caleb 3
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
David 2
Jesse 2
Mark 2
Michael 2
Oliver 2
Augustine 1
Auldbury 1
Chas. 1
Chas.F. 1
Chas.W. 1
Edmund 1
Enos 1
Ephraim 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Fredck. 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Jabez 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
L.H. 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Clinch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clinch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 861 people were recorded with the Clinch surname. That placed it at #4,393 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clinch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 996 in 2016. That gives Clinch a modern rank of #5,817.

What does the Clinch surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word meaning "to hold tightly or firmly clasp".

What does the Clinch map show?

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