Clare Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Clare Name Meaning: Habitational name from 'Clare' in Suffolk,most likely combined with a celtic river name,meaning 'bright','calm',or 'warm'. Possibly baptismal from the French 'Claire',translating as 'bright of fair'.

Irish nameholders also trace their heritage from the same sources, Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke, and better known as 'Strongbow' was the great leader of the Anglo-Norman Invasion of Ireland in 1170.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Clare Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Clare family

Profession Census Frequency
School 608
General Labourer 51
Labourer 44
Farm Labourer 36
General Servant (domestic) 36
Private Means 32
Coal Miner Hewer 31
At Home 28
Cotton Weaver 28
Dressmaker 27
Domestic Servant 25
House Keeper 24
Housekeeper 22
None 22
At School 19
Carter 18
General Servant Domestic 18
Farmer 18
Bricklayer 17
House Painter 16
Charwoman 15
Clerk 15
Home 15
Scholar 15
Dock Labourer 13

Clare Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Clare 100% 33,757
2 Clear 60% 5,193
3 Cleare 83% 2,079
4 Clair 60% 1,531
5 Clara 80% 1,062
6 Cooler 33% 684
7 Cluer 40% 630
8 Coler 40% 422
9 Colier 33% 397
10 Clore 80% 266
11 Cleaer 50% 245
12 Clure 80% 231
13 Clere 80% 202
14 Caler 40% 172
15 Claire 83% 161
16 Clar 80% 131
17 Cleere 67% 127

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The surname Clare is the most popular version of all its varients

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