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

Clak, 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 Clak surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Clak in America

Clak is the 134037th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clak surname appeared 116 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Clak.

The history of the last name Clak

The surname Clak is believed to have its origins in England during the Middle Ages. The name appears to have been derived from the Old English word "clac," which means a sound or a noise. This term was often used to describe someone who was talkative or boisterous, traits that were likely to be the defining characteristics of the original bearers of the name.

In historical records, Clak is found with slight variations in its spelling. The Domesday Book of 1086 does not specifically list Clak, but variants such as Clack and Cloke are found in medieval manuscripts and church records. One of the earliest mentions is of a Roger Clak in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1193. These early occurrences indicate the name was fairly widespread across certain regions in England, including Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

Another notable record is John Clak, who appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk in 1327. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records, and John's appearance indicates he was a taxpayer of some standing within his community. This suggests the Clak family had begun to establish themselves in England by the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, a William Clak was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Kent in 1462. These legal records shed light on individuals involved in various legal disputes, pointing to the involvement of the Clak family in local affairs.

Moving into the 17th century, a Richard Clak, born in 1610, became a prominent landowner in Essex. His records in the Hearth Tax Returns of 1662 provide insights into the wealth and social status the Clak name had accrued over time. This period marked a significant increase in the documentation of family names as the English bureaucratic system expanded.

By the 18th century, the Clak name further diversified in England, with records showing a Henry Clak of Norwich, who was known for his contributions to early scientific communities. Born in 1745, Henry Clak's work in natural history was recognized by contemporaries, and he published several papers in early scientific journals before his death in 1805.

The surname Clak appears in various documents over centuries, illustrating a family that, while not always prominent, contributed steadily to the social fabric of their regions. This surname's journey through history showcases a resilient lineage tied closely to the evolving cultural and administrative landscapes of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clak

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Clak 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.

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 Clak was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!