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

Clarke, 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 Clarke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clarke in America

Clarke is the 487th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clarke surname appeared 68,281 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 23 people would have the surname Clarke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clarke 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 Clarke

The surname Clarke has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the late 11th century. It is derived from the occupational word "clerk," which referred to a scholar, secretary, or someone who performed clerical duties. The name was often adopted by people who worked in ecclesiastical or administrative roles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is also found in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls and the Hundred Rolls, indicating its widespread usage during that period.

The surname Clarke can be traced back to various regions in England, particularly in counties like Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Essex. It was also prevalent in cities like London, where many clerks and scribes were employed in various capacities.

The name has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Clerke, Clerk, and Clarck. These variations reflect the fluidity of spelling conventions in earlier times and regional differences in pronunciation.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Walter Clerk, who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1201. Another notable figure was John Clerk, a 14th-century English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1364 to 1370.

In the 16th century, William Clarke (c. 1509-1551) was a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake for his religious beliefs during the reign of Queen Mary I. His steadfast adherence to his faith made him a notable figure in the history of the Protestant Reformation.

During the 17th century, Samuel Clarke (1675-1729) was a prominent English philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the fields of ethics and metaphysics. His works, such as "A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God," influenced the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 19th century, Marcus Clarke (1846-1881) was an Australian novelist and poet known for his seminal work, "For the Term of His Natural Life," which depicted the harsh realities of convict life in Australia.

Another notable figure from this period was Sir Andrew Clarke (1824-1902), a British physician and surgeon who made significant contributions to the field of public health and sanitation in India during the British colonial era.

Throughout history, the surname Clarke has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including writers, artists, scientists, and political figures. Its enduring presence reflects the widespread influence and impact of those who carried this name across different eras and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clarke

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

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

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

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