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

Cleland, 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 Cleland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cleland in America

Cleland is the 8040th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cleland surname appeared 4,116 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 Cleland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cleland 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 Cleland

The surname Cleland has its origins in Scotland, originating from the lands of Cleland in Lanarkshire. The name is derived from the Gaelic words 'clach' meaning stone and 'leamhan' meaning elm tree, suggesting the name may have been a descriptive one referring to the location of an elm tree near a stone or rocky area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as 'de Clelande', referring to William de Clelande, a landowner from the area.

In the 15th century, the Cleland family held lands in Monkland, near Glasgow, and the name is recorded in various charters and records from that time. A notable member of the family was John Cleland, who lived from around 1400 to 1480 and was a Scottish clergyman and scholar.

The name appears in the 16th century in the records of the Scottish Exchequer Rolls, which document tax payments and other financial transactions. In 1531, John Cleland of Monkland is mentioned as paying a fine for non-appearance at court.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Cleland was William Cleland, a Scottish writer and soldier who lived from 1661 to 1689. He is best known for his erotic novel 'Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure', published under the pseudonym Fanny Hill in 1748.

In the 18th century, the name is associated with James Cleland, a Scottish merchant and plantation owner who lived from 1728 to 1784. He was involved in the tobacco trade and owned plantations in Virginia and Maryland.

Another notable figure was John Cleland, a Scottish artist and engraver who lived from 1770 to 1837. He is known for his detailed engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects, particularly in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.

The 19th century saw the rise of Sir James Cleland, a Scottish businessman and industrialist who lived from 1832 to 1917. He was involved in the iron and steel industry and played a significant role in the development of Glasgow's industrial sector.

Overall, the surname Cleland has a rich history rooted in the lands of Scotland, with various branches and individuals making their mark in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cleland

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

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

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

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