Find out how popular the last name Clagg is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Clagg.

Clagg, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Clagg surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clagg in America

Clagg is the 22530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clagg surname appeared 1,141 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Clagg.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clagg to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Clagg

The surname Clagg is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, England during the late Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "clæg" meaning clay or clayey soil, and "clough" referring to a narrow valley or ravine. This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived near or worked with clay or in a clay-lined valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John Clagge is listed as residing in the village of Normanby. The name is also found in various 15th and 16th century manorial records and parish registers across Yorkshire, often spelled as Clagge, Clegge, or Clegg.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a place called "Clegehog" is mentioned, which is believed to be an early spelling of the modern-day village of Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire. This place name may be related to the surname Clagg, as it likely referred to a clay-lined or clayey area.

Notable individuals with the surname Clagg throughout history include:

1. William Clagg (c.1560-1624), an English merchant and member of the Virginia Company of London, who helped establish the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown.

2. Samuel Clagg (1623-1691), an English Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony and served as the pastor of the Salem Village Church during the Salem Witch Trials.

3. Mary Clagg (1681-1758), an English Quaker and author, known for her spiritual autobiographical writings and advocacy for women's rights.

4. John Clagg (1730-1804), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a member of Parliament.

5. Thomas Clagg (1806-1879), an English industrialist and engineer, who helped revolutionize the textile industry with his innovations in power loom design.

The surname Clagg has maintained a presence in various parts of England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and the surrounding areas, although it remains relatively uncommon compared to other English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clagg

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Clagg.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Clagg was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Clagg has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Clagg was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Clagg, please contact us.

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