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

Clea, 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 Clea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clea in America

Clea is the 93921st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clea surname appeared 195 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 Clea.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clea 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 Clea

The surname CLEA has its origins in England, with records dating back to the early 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "clæg," meaning "clay" or "clayey soil." This suggests that the name initially referred to people who lived in areas with clay-rich soil or worked with clay.

One of the earliest known references to the name CLEA can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a person named Johanna de Cley. This spelling variation highlights the connection to the word "clay" and reinforces the name's origins.

During the medieval period, the name was primarily concentrated in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, areas known for their clay-rich soil and pottery-making traditions. This geographical distribution further supports the theory of the name's derivation from "clay."

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Clee, Claye, and Cley, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. One notable individual from this period was John Clee (c. 1510-1567), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake for his religious beliefs during the reign of Queen Mary I.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals with the surname CLEA, including Samuel Clea (1622-1692), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. Another significant figure was Walter Clea (1633-1712), a member of the Parliament of England and a supporter of the Glorious Revolution.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Benjamin Clea (1735-1798), a renowned English landscape painter known for his picturesque depictions of rural scenes. His works are now housed in various art galleries and museums across Britain.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the most influential figures with the surname CLEA was Mary Clea (1823-1891), a pioneering British educator who advocated for women's rights and founded several schools for girls in London.

Throughout its history, the surname CLEA has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, clergymen, politicians, and educators. Despite its humble origins, the name has earned a place in the annals of English history, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the regions where it flourished.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clea

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

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

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

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