NameCensus.

UK surname

Clover

An English toponymic surname derived from the Old English word "clāfre," referring to someone who lived near a clover field.

In the 1881 census there were 857 people recorded with the Clover surname, ranking it #4,415 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,141, ranked #5,170, down from #4,415 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rattlesden, London parishes and Walthamstow, Low Leyton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Maldon and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clover is 1,188 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.1%.

1881 census count

857

Ranked #4,415

Modern count

1,141

2016, ranked #5,170

Peak year

2014

1,188 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clover had 857 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,415 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,141 in 2016, ranked #5,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,157 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Clover surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clover surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clover 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 500 #5,001
1861 historical 603 #4,390
1881 historical 857 #4,415
1891 historical 910 #4,537
1901 historical 1,002 #4,752
1911 historical 1,157 #4,036
1997 modern 1,158 #4,866
1998 modern 1,168 #4,997
1999 modern 1,169 #5,039
2000 modern 1,171 #5,009
2001 modern 1,142 #5,019
2002 modern 1,176 #4,983
2003 modern 1,156 #4,961
2004 modern 1,141 #5,030
2005 modern 1,137 #4,991
2006 modern 1,140 #4,972
2007 modern 1,138 #5,030
2008 modern 1,147 #5,032
2009 modern 1,153 #5,124
2010 modern 1,170 #5,149
2011 modern 1,160 #5,138
2012 modern 1,144 #5,108
2013 modern 1,175 #5,088
2014 modern 1,188 #5,070
2015 modern 1,166 #5,094
2016 modern 1,141 #5,170

Geography

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Where Clovers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rattlesden, London parishes, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Maldon, Babergh and Tendring. 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 Rattlesden Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 002 East Lindsey
2 Maldon 001 Maldon
3 Babergh 010 Babergh
4 Tendring 016 Tendring
5 Tendring 004 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clover

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clover

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clover, 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 Clover surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Clover 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Clover is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clover is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clover falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Clover

The surname Clover originated in England and is derived from the Old English word "clæfre," meaning clover. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a clover patch or worked with the plant in some capacity.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Clover dates back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known references can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a Richard le Clovere. The name was also recorded in various other medieval records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Clovere is listed.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Clover appeared in various spellings, including Clovere, Clover, and Clouwere, reflecting the variations in local dialects and scribal practices of the time. Some of these spelling variations were also influenced by place names, as people were often identified by the location they came from.

One notable individual with the surname Clover was Robert Clover, a 15th-century English clergyman and author. He was born in the late 14th century and served as the Bishop of Llandaff from 1436 until his death in 1447. Clover wrote several theological works, including a commentary on the Book of Psalms.

Another significant figure with this surname was Sir John Clover, a 16th-century English merchant and politician. Born in the late 15th century, he served as Sheriff of London in 1533 and was elected as a Member of Parliament for the City of London in 1547. Sir John Clover was also a prominent member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers.

In the 17th century, the surname Clover was also found in Scotland. One of the earliest recorded examples is Thomas Clover, a Scottish merchant who was born in Dundee around 1620. He later settled in London and became a successful trader, contributing to the development of Scottish commerce in England.

Another notable individual was Samuel Clover, an English writer and poet who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born in 1677, he is best known for his collection of poems titled "The Poetical Works of Samuel Clover," published in 1714.

Lastly, William Clover, an English botanist and horticulturist, made significant contributions to the study of plants in the 18th century. Born in 1701, he was a fellow of the Royal Society and published several works on horticulture, including "The Florist's Vade-Mecum" in 1750.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clover families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clover 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. Suffolk leads with 230 Clovers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.61x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 230 22.61x
Essex 135 8.19x
Middlesex 113 1.35x
Yorkshire 78 0.94x
Kent 75 2.63x
Surrey 69 1.70x
Nottinghamshire 29 2.58x
Norfolk 25 1.95x
Lancashire 24 0.24x
Lincolnshire 18 1.35x
Cheshire 15 0.81x
Derbyshire 8 0.61x
Cambridgeshire 7 1.32x
Dorset 7 1.28x
Hampshire 5 0.29x
Sussex 5 0.36x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.39x
Shropshire 2 0.28x
Warwickshire 2 0.10x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.30x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.54x
Durham 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.17x
Isle of Man 1 0.64x
Northamptonshire 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. Walthamstow in Essex leads with 22 Clovers recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.08x.

Place Total Index
Walthamstow 22 37.08x
Battisford 21 1693.55x
Camberwell 21 3.94x
Ecclesall Bierlow 21 12.48x
Rattlesden 20 671.14x
West Ham 19 5.22x
St Pancras London 18 2.68x
Mendlesham 17 527.95x
Little Oakley 14 1538.46x
St Marylebone London 14 3.14x
Battersea 12 3.91x
Chelsea London 12 4.77x
Claughton With Grange 12 143.03x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 12 127.12x
Boreham 11 387.32x
Islington London 11 1.36x
Oldham 11 3.44x
Brightside Bierlow 10 6.16x
Ipswich St Margaret 10 28.98x
Long Melford 10 105.82x
Colchester St Botolph 9 64.19x
Heigham 9 13.06x
Laxton 9 652.17x
Lee 9 21.75x
Misson 9 461.54x
Southwark St Saviour 9 20.97x
Finningham 8 666.67x
Haxey 8 141.09x
Ipswich St Mathew 8 28.07x
Lambeth 8 1.10x
Lympne 8 496.89x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.75x
Tuddenham St Mary 8 727.27x
Ardleigh 7 153.17x
Bacton 7 380.43x
Bury St Edmunds St James 7 25.76x
Buxhall 7 514.71x
Framsden 7 309.73x
Hucknall Torkard 7 24.53x
Kensington London 7 1.51x
Lewisham 7 4.61x
Middlesbrough 7 6.50x
Tibshelf 7 109.20x
Birling 6 237.15x
Bromley London 6 3.27x
Charsfield 6 487.80x
Clapham 6 5.75x
Eastry 6 151.90x
Great Ellingham 6 317.46x
Haverhill 6 66.37x
Liverpool 6 1.00x
Poplar London 6 3.81x
Shoreditch London 6 1.66x
Somersham 6 512.82x
Thorpe St Peter 6 368.10x
Thwaite 6 1428.57x
Bulmer 5 251.26x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 5 26.19x
Doncaster 5 8.27x
Drinkstone 5 378.79x
Holy Trinity St Mary 5 39.68x
Lakenham 5 27.41x
Nedging 5 1020.41x
Pannal 5 62.97x
Ramsgate 5 10.75x
Ringwould 5 204.92x
St Giles In Fields London 5 12.20x
Sudbury St Gregory 5 61.35x
Wetheringsett Cum 5 168.92x
Wombwell 5 20.72x
Bere Regis 4 108.99x
Bradfield St George 4 314.96x
Burnham 4 65.68x
Chartham 4 56.34x
Egham 4 16.01x
Great Welnetham 4 317.46x
Manningtree 4 149.25x
Mile End 4 132.89x
Tottenham 4 3.01x
Walmer 4 32.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 53
George 40
John 39
Charles 26
James 22
Robert 18
Frederick 17
Henry 16
Thomas 16
Walter 10
Joseph 9
Edward 8
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Albert 6
Harry 6
Samuel 6
Benjamin 4
Herbert 4
Daniel 3
Fred 3
Isaac 3
Peter 3
Stephen 3
David 2
Dennis 2
Edgar 2
Jacob 2
Jonathon 2
Mark 2
Nathan 2
Sydney 2
Amos 1
Benjamine 1
Chas. 1
Colson 1
Cristopher 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ellen 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Frerick 1
Hy. 1
Jno 1
Martin 1
Mary 1
Zephaniah 1

FAQ

Clover surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clover surname in 1881?

In 1881, 857 people were recorded with the Clover surname. That placed it at #4,415 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clover surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,141 in 2016. That gives Clover a modern rank of #5,170.

What does the Clover surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from the Old English word "clāfre," referring to someone who lived near a clover field.

What does the Clover map show?

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