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

Clare, 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 Clare surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clare in America

Clare is the 7702nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clare surname appeared 4,309 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Clare.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clare 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 Clare

The surname Clare originates from the town of Clare in Suffolk, England, which dates back to the 11th century. The name is derived from the Latin word "clarus," meaning "clear" or "bright," referring to the clear stream that flowed through the town.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname Clare can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists several landowners with the name in Suffolk and Essex. One notable entry is that of Richard de Clare, who held lands in Suffolk and Essex.

In the 12th century, the powerful de Clare family played a significant role in English history. Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (1130-1176), was a prominent military leader during the reign of King Henry II. His son, Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford (1180-1230), was one of the leading barons who forced King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215.

Another notable bearer of the surname was John Clare (1793-1864), an English poet known for his vivid descriptions of rural life and nature. His poems, such as "The Village Minstrel" and "The Shepherd's Calendar," capture the essence of the English countryside.

In Ireland, the name Clare is sometimes associated with the county of Clare, which takes its name from the medieval de Clare family who held lands in the region. The Irish variant of the name is often spelled as O'Clare or Cleirigh.

Other famous individuals with the surname Clare include:

1. Sir Ralph de Clare (c. 1285-1314), an English nobleman who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence.
2. Elizabeth de Clare (1292-1360), an English noblewoman and the wife of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March.
3. Richard de Clare (c. 1130-1176), 2nd Earl of Pembroke, a prominent figure in the Anarchy period in English history.
4. Patrick Clare (1918-1994), an Irish actor best known for his roles in films like "The Quiet Man" and "The Sundowners."
5. Ada Clare (1834-1874), an English author and poet who wrote under the pseudonym "A.L.O.E."

The surname Clare has a rich history spanning centuries, with its roots firmly planted in the medieval period of England and its connections to influential families and notable individuals throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clare

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

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

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

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