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

Clemens, 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 Clemens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clemens in America

Clemens is the 2542nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clemens surname appeared 14,231 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Clemens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clemens 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 Clemens

The surname Clemens is of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Clemens, which means "merciful" or "gentle." This name has its roots in ancient Rome, where it was initially used as a personal name.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Clemens can be traced back to the medieval period in various regions of Europe, particularly in Germany, France, and the Low Countries. It was often used as a descriptive surname, referring to individuals who were known for their gentle or merciful nature.

In the 12th century, the name Clemens appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name had already spread beyond its original Latin roots and was being used as a surname in England at that time.

One notable bearer of the surname Clemens was Clemens Alexandrinus, also known as Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215 CE), an influential Christian theologian and philosopher. Another prominent figure was Clemens Romanus, or Clement of Rome (c. 35-99 CE), an early Christian bishop and one of the Apostolic Fathers.

In the 14th century, a German poet and writer named Clemens Brentano (1778-1842) gained recognition for his contributions to the Romantic literary movement. His works, such as "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" (The Youth's Magic Horn) and "Godwi," became influential in their time.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Clemens was also associated with the Italian painter and architect Girolamo Muziano (1532-1592), also known as Girolamo Muziano Clemens. He was renowned for his frescoes and altarpieces, particularly in Rome and other Italian cities.

In the 19th century, the American writer and humorist Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, became one of the most celebrated authors in American literature. His works, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," are considered literary classics.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the surname Clemens throughout history, highlighting its longevity and diverse cultural associations across different regions and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clemens

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

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

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

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