Surname Clare - Meaning and Origin
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Clare: What does the surname Clare mean?
The last name Clare is an English surname believed to have originated from either Norman or Saxon settlers. It is thought to have originally come from an area of Normandy known as Clare or Clair, derived from the Latin word "clarus", meaning bright or clear. Alternatively, the name may come from the Anglo-Saxon word "claer", which has its origins in the Middle English word "clere", meaning bright or famous.
Throughout the Middle Ages and into the 19th century, the Clare surname was most commonly associated with nobility. In Wales, the Clare surname was found amongst the aristocrats and landowners of the time. Meanwhile, over in England there were branches of the Clare family stationed in the East Midlands and London in the late 13th century.
Clare is an ancient surname that is still popular today. It is thought to be one of the oldest still currently in use, having been recorded as far back as 1086 in the Domesday Book. It is also the name of several counties throughout the British Isles, including County Clare in Ireland and Clare in Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire in England.
The use of the Clare surname is thought to have spread far and wide. Families bearing variants of the name can be found in many parts of the world, such as Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. It continues to be used with proud.
Order DNA origin analysisClare: Where does the name Clare come from?
The last name Clare is most commonly found in English speaking countries, especially the United Kingdom. A less common but still significantly present population of Clare families exist in Ireland. It is also popular in Australia and New Zealand and in other nations of the former British Empire. It is less frequently found in the United States but not overly rare, with about 7,000 people in the United States possessing it.
Clare is generally believed to have derived from the Irish surname MacColrath which split into two varieties, MacClare and O’Clare. It was given to those that lived in Ireland’s region of Clare, primarily in County Clare and County Limerick. The name Clare translates to "bright and clear" or "fame and glory".
The Clare surname is also sometimes encountered in Scotland, particularly in East Lothian. During the 13th century, a Norman noble family, de Clare, arrived in England with William I. Over time, their descendants adopted the surname of Clare, likely to differentiate themselves more and more from other families from their region.
Overall, the surname Clare remains a relatively common last name in England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other former British colonies. Over time, it may become more prevalent in other countries, including the United States.
Variations of the surname Clare
The surname Clare is derived from the Norman French name Clare or Clair, meaning “clear” or “bright”. It is one of the most common English surnames and has been in use since the 12th century. There are numerous spelling variants of the surname, including Clare, Clair, Clairs, Clairse, Clary, Clarey, Clarys, Claires, Clairse, and Claryse.
The surname also has several variants that are based on regional dialects and languages, such as Clères in Provence, Clais in Alsace, and Clar in Gascon. It is also found in Scottish form as Clere.
The surname Clare can also be found as a Jewish surname, which is derived from the German word “klar” meaning “clear”. This surname was adopted by Jewish families who migrated from Germany to the United Kingdom and eventually the United States. The spelling variants of this surname are Claro, Cloros, and Clar.
In Ireland, Clare is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname O’Cléirigh or Mac Cléirigh, derived from the Gaelic word “Cléirigh” meaning descendant of the cleric or clerk. The variants of this surname are Cleary, Clearys, Clearysse, Clery, Clerys, Clearey, Joe O’Claire, and Clear.
In the United States, the surname Clare is often found as an anglicised form of the German surname Klaar. The variants of this surname in the United States are Clarr, Claur, Clarro, and Klarr.
All in all, the surname Clare has numerous spelling variants and surnames of the same origin. These include Clare, Clair, Clairs, Clairse, Clary, Clarey, Clarys, Claires, Clairse, Claryse, Clères, Clais, Clar, Clere, Claro, Cloros, Clar, Cleary, Clearys, Clearysse, Clery, Clerys, Clearey, Joe O’Claire, Clear, Clarr, Claur, Clarro, and Klarr.
Famous people with the name Clare
- Alex Clare: British singer-songwriter and producer.
- Cheryl Clare: British marathon runner and promoter of women’s athletics.
- Kenneth Clare: Australian cricketer, competed in the 1932–33 Ashes series.
- Hilary Clare: American actress.
- Bob Clare: English footballer, played for West Ham United in the 1950s–60s.
- Kevin Clare: Australian innovative neoclassical artist.
- Jessie Clare: British Paralympic cyclist.
- Richard Clare: British royal court artist in the 17th century.
- John Clare: English writer who specialized in poetry and nature writing.
- Irma Clare: American actress who has worked in films and television.