2000
#6,858
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,520
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.68
Rare Last name
Clair
A French habitational surname derived from a place near a bank or slope, or a topographic name for someone living near a cliff.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,017 Americans carry the last name Clair. That puts it at #7,342 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.46 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 68,319 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Clair surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Clair with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
5.0K
1 in 68,319
Census rank
#7,342
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,375 bearers of the surname Clair in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.46 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7342nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Clair, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.5%. The next largest groups are Black (10.6%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Clair
The surname Clair has its origins in France, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the French word "clair," meaning "clear" or "bright," which likely referred to a person's complexion or bright, radiant appearance.
One of the earliest known references to the name Clair can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "de Clair," suggesting that it may have been used as a surname for those residing in or near a place called Clair.
During the 12th century, the name Clair appeared in several medieval manuscripts and records, often associated with noble families or individuals of prominence. One notable example is Gérard de Clair, a French knight who participated in the Third Crusade alongside Richard the Lionheart in the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the name Clair was linked to several place names in France, such as Clairvaux and Clairmont, indicating that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Clair was Jehan Clair, a French poet and writer born in the early 14th century. His work, "Le Roman de la Rose," was highly influential in the development of French literature during the Middle Ages.
Another noteworthy figure was Étienne de Clair, a French architect who lived in the 15th century and is credited with designing several notable buildings, including the Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley.
In the 16th century, the Clair family gained prominence in England, with Sir John Clair (1489-1556) serving as a courtier and diplomat during the reign of Henry VIII.
The 17th century saw the rise of René Clair (1624-1680), a French painter and engraver known for his intricate etchings and engravings, many of which depict religious scenes and portraits.
In the 18th century, the name Clair was associated with the French philosopher and writer, François-Joseph Clair (1714-1787), whose works explored topics such as ethics, philosophy, and the nature of human existence.
As the surname Clair spread across Europe and beyond, it continued to be associated with individuals of note, including the 19th century French composer and pianist, Eugène Clair (1830-1901), whose compositions were widely performed in concert halls across Europe.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Clair
Among Census respondents with the surname Clair, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.5%. The next largest groups are Black (10.6%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Clair bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Clair surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.5% · 3,522
- Black or African American10.6% · 465
- Two or more races3.2% · 141
- Hispanic or Latino3.1% · 137
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.0% · 86
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 24
Timeline
Historical Census data for Clair
Clair appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#7,292
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,571
+51 bearers (+1.1%)
Per 100,000 1.55
Rank movement Down 434 places
2020
#7,342
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,375
-196 bearers (-4.3%)
Per 100,000 1.46
Rank movement Down 50 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #6,858 | 4,520 | 1.68 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #7,292 | 4,571 | 1.55 | +51 bearers (+1.1%) | Down 434 places |
| 2020 | #7,342 | 4,375 | 1.46 | -196 bearers (-4.3%) | Down 50 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Clair surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,292 | #7,342 | -0.7% |
| Count | 4,571 | 4,375 | -4.3% |
| Per 100K | 1.55 | 1.46 | -5.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Clair bearers went from 4,571 to 4,375 (-4.3% change). The surname moved down 50 positions in the national ranking, going from #7,292 to #7,342.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Clair
FAQ
Clair surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Clair?
Name Census estimates that about 5,017 living Americans carry the surname Clair. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 68,319 residents.
How common is Clair?
Clair ranks #7,342 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.46 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,375 people with the surname Clair. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (5,017), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.46 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.46 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Clair.
Has Clair become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Clair went from 4,571 recorded bearers to 4,375. That is a decrease of 196 (-4.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #7,292 to #7,342.
What does the Census say about the background of Clair?
Among Census respondents with the surname Clair, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.5%. The next largest groups are Black (10.6%) and Two or More Races (3.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Clair in the 2020 Census, accounting for 80.5% (3,522 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Clair appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (80.5%), Black (10.6%), Two or More Races (3.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Clair (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Clair mean?
A French habitational surname derived from a place near a bank or slope, or a topographic name for someone living near a cliff. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Clair (1.46 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Clair?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the last name Clair on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.