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

Clash, 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 Clash surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clash in America

Clash is the 74375th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clash surname appeared 260 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 Clash.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clash 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 Clash

The surname CLASH is derived from the Old English word 'clacc', which means a clash or loud noise. This name likely originated in England during the medieval period, possibly referring to someone who was noisy or worked as a blacksmith or metalworker, professions that involved loud clanging sounds.

The earliest recorded instance of the CLASH surname dates back to the 13th century in Suffolk, England. A record from 1273 mentions a Richard le Clacche, which is an early spelling variation of the name. Another early reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1301, where a William Clash is listed.

During the 14th century, the CLASH name appears in various records across different regions of England. In the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, a John Clash is mentioned. Additionally, the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 include an entry for a Thomas Clayshe, which is likely another variation of the CLASH spelling.

One notable individual with this surname was Sir Edward Clash (1495-1578), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He held estates in Northamptonshire and was knighted by the Queen in 1567.

In the 17th century, the CLASH name gained some literary significance. Robert Clash (1612-1686) was an English poet and playwright who authored several works, including the play "The Generous Portugals" and a collection of poems titled "Poetical Miscellanies."

Another historically significant figure was John Clash (1720-1795), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He commanded several ships and was involved in various battles against the American and French forces.

Moving into the 19th century, James Clash (1819-1882) was a Scottish-born engineer who played a crucial role in the development of early railroads in the United States. He worked on several notable projects, including the construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

In the realm of academia, William Clash (1867-1941) was a renowned historian and scholar of medieval English literature. He served as a professor at Oxford University and authored numerous books and publications on topics related to Chaucer and other medieval writers.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the CLASH surname throughout history, spanning various fields and professions across different time periods and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clash

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

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

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

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