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

Clem, 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 Clem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clem in America

Clem is the 4384th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clem surname appeared 8,107 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Clem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clem 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 Clem

The surname Clem has its origins in England, dating back to the late medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English word "clemm," which means "to clench or grip tightly." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person with a strong or forceful grip, possibly referring to a particular occupation or physical characteristic.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Clem can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, where it appears as "Clemme." This indicates that the name was already established in the West Midlands region of England by the 14th century.

The Clem surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Clem's Green in Worcestershire and Clempston in Nottinghamshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Historically, the Clem surname has been linked to individuals of note, including John Clem, a renowned English clergyman and scholar who lived in the late 16th century. He was born in Worcestershire in 1586 and later became the Rector of Tredington, Warwickshire, where he served until his death in 1658.

Another notable figure was Robert Clem, an English soldier and adventurer who lived in the late 17th century. He was born in Gloucestershire in 1670 and gained fame for his exploits during the Nine Years' War, serving under the Duke of Marlborough.

In the 18th century, the name Clem was associated with Samuel Clem, a prominent merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He was born in 1712 and played a significant role in the local community, serving as a magistrate and contributing to the development of the region's trade and industry.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Clem, a British politician and social reformer. Born in 1811 in Warwickshire, he was elected to Parliament in 1847 and became a prominent advocate for workers' rights and educational reform.

Another notable Clem was Henry Clem, a renowned English architect who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1858 in Gloucestershire, he was responsible for designing several iconic buildings, including the City Hall in Birmingham and the Guildhall in Cambridge.

While the Clem surname may have evolved and spread across different regions over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "clemm," reflecting its deep roots in English history and language.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clem

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!