UK surname
A locative surname originating from a place called Clunn or Clun in Shropshire, England.
In the 1881 census there were 76 people recorded with the Clunn surname, ranking it #22,745 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 64, ranked #34,098, down from #22,745 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Swanscombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clunn is 137 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.8%.
1881 census count
76
Ranked #22,745
Modern count
64
2016, ranked #34,098
Peak year
1911
137 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Clunn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Clunn surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 52 | #23,915 |
| 1861 | historical | 88 | #22,554 |
| 1881 | historical | 76 | #22,745 |
| 1891 | historical | 116 | #21,766 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 137 | #18,880 |
| 1997 | modern | 52 | #32,444 |
| 1998 | modern | 88 | #29,131 |
| 1999 | modern | 91 | #28,937 |
| 2000 | modern | 94 | #28,573 |
| 2001 | modern | 84 | #29,508 |
| 2002 | modern | 87 | #29,644 |
| 2003 | modern | 87 | #29,615 |
| 2004 | modern | 91 | #29,345 |
| 2005 | modern | 89 | #29,683 |
| 2006 | modern | 80 | #31,149 |
| 2007 | modern | 79 | #31,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 82 | #31,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 79 | #32,372 |
| 2010 | modern | 75 | #33,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 73 | #33,230 |
| 2012 | modern | 71 | #33,573 |
| 2013 | modern | 72 | #33,631 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 70 | #33,717 |
| 2016 | modern | 64 | #34,098 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Swanscombe, Sittingbourne and Ramsgate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Swanscombe | Kent |
| 4 | Sittingbourne | Kent |
| 5 | Ramsgate | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Clunn surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clunn, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Clunn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Clunn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Clunn is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clunn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Clunn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Clunn is believed to have originated in the British Isles, likely in England or Scotland, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "clun," which meant a hill or a cliff. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent hill or rocky outcrop.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry "Clunne" is listed, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname Clunn.
In the 13th century, there are records of a family bearing the name Clunn residing in the county of Staffordshire, England. This region was known for its hilly terrain, further supporting the theory that the name is related to a geographic feature.
Notable individuals with the surname Clunn include William Clunn, a renowned English architect who lived from 1680 to 1754. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. George in Bloomsbury.
Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Clunn, a British military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1778 and played a crucial role in several battles against the French, earning numerous honors for his bravery and leadership.
In Scotland, the Clunn name can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing a family residing in the Highlands region. One notable member was Alasdair Clunn, a Scottish philosopher and scholar who lived from 1650 to 1718. He made significant contributions to the study of Scottish history and culture.
The Clunn surname has also been recorded in various place names throughout the British Isles, such as Clunbury, a village in Shropshire, England, and Clunton, a small hamlet in Shropshire as well. These place names likely derived from the same Old English word that gave rise to the surname.
Over the centuries, the Clunn name has undergone various spelling variations, including Clunne, Clunney, and Cluney, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. Despite these variations, the surname has maintained a strong presence throughout the British Isles and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clunn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 25 Clunns recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 25 | 9.51x |
| Staffordshire | 13 | 5.00x |
| Pembrokeshire | 12 | 49.02x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 3.09x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.65x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.33x |
| Berkshire | 4 | 6.92x |
| Sussex | 4 | 3.08x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 8.76x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 10.89x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 13 Clunns recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke Upon Trent | 13 | 47.14x |
| Manor Bier | 11 | 6470.59x |
| Solihull | 6 | 428.57x |
| Newington In Milton | 5 | 1851.85x |
| Sittingbourne | 5 | 240.38x |
| Clapham | 4 | 41.54x |
| Reading St Giles | 4 | 70.55x |
| Milton In Milton | 3 | 267.86x |
| Plumstead | 3 | 34.25x |
| Swanscombe | 3 | 254.24x |
| Waldron | 3 | 857.14x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.68x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 2 | 12.20x |
| St Martin | 2 | 142.86x |
| Whitstable | 2 | 155.04x |
| Bobbing | 1 | 833.33x |
| Christchurch | 1 | 29.24x |
| Feltham | 1 | 129.87x |
| Hubberston | 1 | 277.78x |
| Littlehampton | 1 | 96.15x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 1 | 22.99x |
| Ramsgate | 1 | 23.31x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 12.74x |
| Southcoates | 1 | 23.58x |
| Sutton | 1 | 36.76x |
| Tunstall | 1 | 1428.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clunn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Clunn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Clunn households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 16 |
| Actress | 2 |
| Infant | 2 |
| Able Seaman | 1 |
| Actor | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Brick Field Labour | 1 |
| Brick Moulder | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Clerk In Telegraph Office | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Ser | 1 |
| Ministers Wife | 1 |
| Ord Sea | 1 |
| Ostler | 1 |
| Potter | 1 |
| Potter Presser | 1 |
| Potters Painter | 1 |
| Potters Plate Maker | 1 |
| Practitioner M.R.C.S. | 1 |
| Publican & Maltster | 1 |
| Publicans Daughter | 1 |
| Rector of Hodgeston | 1 |
| Road Labr | 1 |
| Road Labr Wife | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 76 people were recorded with the Clunn surname. That placed it at #22,745 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 64 in 2016. That gives Clunn a modern rank of #34,098.
A locative surname originating from a place called Clunn or Clun in Shropshire, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clunn bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.