Clay Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Clay Name Meaning: Habbitational name meaning for someone who lived in an area of clay soil. Alternatively it could refer to someone who worked in a clay pit.

From the Olde English pre 7th Century 'claeg' meaning clay.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Clay Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Clay family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 756
Agricultural Labourer 142
Labourer 55
Dress Maker 47
House Servant 46
Coal Miner 43
Carter 33
Servant 30
House Keeper 29
Blacksmith 28
Silk Weaver 24
Laundress 20
Frame Work Knitter 20
Tailor 18
Woollen Weaver 18
General Servant 17
Farmer 14
Nurse 14
Domestic Servant 13
Stone Mason 13
Cook 13
Silk Winder 13
Nail Maker 13
Ribbon Weaver 13
Butcher 12

Clay Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Clay 100% 46,095
2 Coley 60% 14,403
3 Caley 60% 8,870
4 Cooley 50% 6,530
5 Claye 80% 618
6 Couley 50% 544
7 Culy 50% 451
8 Coaley 50% 443
9 Cley 75% 335
10 Culey 60% 307
11 Cauley 50% 293
12 Ceely 40% 187
13 Caly 50% 177
14 Cloy 75% 177
15 Coly 50% 162
16 Coiley 50% 153
17 Cooly 40% 147
18 Cailey 50% 144
19 Ecley 60% 116

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

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