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

Clement, 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 Clement surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clement in America

Clement is the 1505th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clement surname appeared 23,830 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Clement.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clement 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 Clement

The surname Clement has its origins in England, dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Latin word "clemens," meaning "mild" or "merciful." The name was likely first used as a nickname for someone with a gentle or compassionate disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of lands and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Clement in Gloucestershire.

In the 12th century, the name Clement appeared in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, which documented a Clemens de Areci in 1166. The spelling variations at that time included Clements, Clemence, and Clementson.

The surname Clement is also associated with several place names in England, such as Clementhorpe in Yorkshire and Clements Inn in London. These places likely derived their names from individuals bearing the surname Clement who lived or owned property there.

Notable individuals with the surname Clement throughout history include:

1. Jacques Clement (c. 1567-1589), a French Roman Catholic monk who assassinated King Henry III of France in 1589.

2. Sir Clement Edmondes (1567-1622), an English diplomat and Secretary of State during the reign of King James I.

3. John Clement (1594-1572), an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the 16th century.

4. René Clement (1913-1996), a French film director and screenwriter known for films such as "Forbidden Games" and "Purple Noon."

5. Ray Clement (1922-2008), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Hooters restaurant chain.

Throughout its history, the surname Clement has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including royalty, politicians, artists, and entrepreneurs. Its enduring presence reflects the rich cultural heritage and diversity associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clement

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

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

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

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