Place of Birth

Sharakhi/Creek
Tribal Affiliation

Sharakhi/Creek
Surname Heritage

England / Ireland / Scotland

Clarke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Clarke is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a person who concerned himself with matters of scholarly importance or of religious orders or as a secretary. The surname Clarke originally derived from the Latin form clericus. [1] [2] [3]

“A learned person-that is, one who could in old times read and write-accomplishments not so rare, after all, as we are sometimes induced to think, since this is among the commonest of surnames. “[4]

“As all writing and secretarial work in the Middle Ages was done by the clergy, the term came to mean ‘scholar, secretary, recorder or penraan’.” [5]

Early Origins of the Clarke family

The surname Clarke was first found in Hampshire where Richerius clericus was registered in the Domesday Book of 1086. [6] A few years later in Somerset, Willelm de Clerec was registered c. 1100 and a hundred or so years later, Reginald Clerc was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Rutland in 1205. In Lincolnshire, the first record there was John le Clerk in 1272. [5]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the widespread use of the name at that time: Boniface Clericus, Lincolnshire; Thomas le Clerk, Lincolnshire; Batekyn Clericus, Essex; Gilbert le Clerk, Oxfordshire; and Thomas le Clerck, Buckinghamshire. [1]

In Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Robertus Clarke; Beatrix Clerc; Henricus Clerk; Robertus Clerk’ et Johanna uxor ejus; and Agnes Clerk. [1]

The name is “universally distributed over England, but most numerous in its centre. Absent in Wales, and scarce in most of the counties on the Welsh border. Not frequent in most of the south – west great counties. Best represented in Buckinghamshire, Essex, Leicestershire, Rutlandshire, and Nottinghamshire. As in the counties of Nottinghamshire and Shropshire, it would sometimes appear that the terminal e signifies a transference from the Trade to the Court Directory. Clark is found over a large part of Scotland, but is rare in the northern part.” [7]

Early History of the Clarke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clarke research.

Clarke Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person’s name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Clarke include Clarke, Clerke and others.

Early Notables of the Clarke family (pre 1700)

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir William Clarke (died 1666), an English politician, Secretary at War (1661), Secretary to the Council of the Army, 1647-1649; Timothy Clarke (died 1672), an English physician, a founding Fellow of the Royal Society; John Clarke (died 1675), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1670 to 1675; John Clarke (1609-1676), English-born medical doctor born at Westhorpe, Suffolk, Baptist minister, co-founder of the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, author of its charter, and leading advocate.

Clarke World Ranking

In the United States, the name Clarke is the 482^nd most popular surname with an estimated 59,688 people with that name. [8] However, in Canada, the name Clarke is ranked the 57^th most popular surname with an estimated 36,520 people with that name. [9] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Clarke is the 634^th popular surname. [10] Newfoundland, Canada ranks Clarke as 15^thwith 934 people. [11] Australia ranks Clarke as 33^rd with 47,613 people. [12] New Zealand ranks Clarke as 42^nd with 5,442 people. [13] The United Kingdom ranks Clarke as 25^th with 114,723 people. [14] South Africa ranks Clarke as 809^th with 8,603 people. [15]

Migration of the Clarke family to Ireland

Some of the Clarke family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

Clarke migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Clarke were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Clarke Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Clarke, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1608 aboard the ship “Second Supply” [16]
Richard Clarke, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 aboard the “Mayflower” [16]
Thomas Clarke, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 [16]
Thomas Clarke, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [16]
Brigett Clarke, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 [16]

Clarke Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Christopher Clarke, who arrived in Virginia in 1710 [16]
Robert Clarke, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1712 [16]
Frances Clarke, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 [16]
Sarah Clarke, who landed in Virginia in 1714 [16]
Darby Clarke, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 [16]

Clarke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francis Clarke, who arrived in Frederick County, Maryland in 1803 [16]
Patrick Clarke, who landed in America in 1805 [16]
Thomas Clarke, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1812 [16]
Pierson Clarke, aged 36, who arrived in Alexandria, Va in 1817 [16]
Mathew Clarke, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1818 [16]

Clarke Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Thomas Clarke, (b. 1838), aged 65, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship “Philadelphia” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 19th September 1903 en route to Pennsylvania, USA [17]
Mr. Thomas Clarke, (b. 1882), aged 21, Cornish labourer travelling aboard the ship “Campania” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th October 1903 en route to Lake Linden, Michigan, USA [17]
Mrs. Hilda Clarke, (b. 1881), aged 24, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship “Teutonic” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 2nd March 1905 en route to Philadelphia, USA [17]
John A Clarke, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 [16]

Clarke migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Clarke Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Alexander Clarke, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Dennis Clarke, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
John Clarke, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Thomas Clarke, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Moses Clarke, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752

Clarke Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Patrick Clarke, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1812
Barnet Clarke, who landed in Canada in 1829
hums Clarke, who arrived in Canada in 1829
William Clarke, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship “Mary Ann” from Belfast, Ireland
John Clarke, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship “Mary Ann” from Belfast, Ireland

Clarke Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Miss M A Clarke, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Clarke migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Clarke Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Jeremiah Clarke, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]

Clarke Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss. Elizabeth Clarke, Irish convict who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for life, transported aboard the “Atlas” on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [19]
Mr. John Clarke, (Clark), (b. 1766), aged 37, British convict who was convicted in Derby, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the “Calcutta” in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the “Queen” in 1804 [20]
Miss Mary Clarke, Irish convict who was convicted in Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the “Experiment” on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [21]
Matthew Clarke, English convict from Southampton, who was transported aboard the “Ann” on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia [22]
William Clarke, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the “Ann” on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia [22]

Clarke Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Miss May Ann Clarke, (b. 1869), aged 39, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship “Ortona” arriving in Queensland, Australia on 27th March 1908 [23]

Clarke migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Clarke Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Clarke, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
B Edward Clarke, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
George Clarke, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
J Henry Clarke, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
Emma Clarke, aged 23, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Duke of Roxburgh” in 1840 [24]

Clarke Settlers in New Zealand in the 20th Century

Frederick Clarke, aged 33, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “S. S. Waimana” in 1926

Clarke migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [25]

Clarke Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

William Clarke, aged 20, who landed in St Christopher in 1633 [16]
Robert Clarke, aged 18, who landed in Barbados in 1635 [16]
William Clarke, aged 19, who landed in Barbados in 1635 [16]
George Clarke, who settled in Barbados in 1680 with his wife and servants
Josias Clarke, who arrived in Jamaica in 1689 [16]

Clarke Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Mr. John Clarke, aged 31, emigrating from Antony, Cornwall to Jamaica, West Indies, to become an indebted servant to Neale Mackneale, a mariner originally from London, Englandon 14th December 1734 [26]

Contemporary Notables of the name Clarke (post 1700) +

Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (1917-2008), British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for his novel 2001: “A Space Odyssey” [27]
Terrence Clarke (2001-2021), American college basketball player for the Kentucky Wildcats in the Southeastern Conference (SEC); he died in a car crash at age 19
Edmund Melson Clarke Jr. (1945-2020), American computer scientist and academic noted for developing model checking, he died from COVID-19
Horace Meredith Clarke (1939-2020), American Major League Baseball second baseman who played from 1965 to 1974
Lydia Marie Clarke (1923-2018), American actress and photographer, and the wife of Academy Award-winning actor Charlton Heston
Brigadier-General Carter Weldon Clarke (1896-1987), American Director Army Security Agency (1949-1950) [28]
General Bruce Cooper Clarke (1901-1988), American Commander in Chief US Army Europe (1960-1962) [29]
Martha Clarke (b. 1944), American dancer and choreographer
Frank Wigglesworth Clarke (1847-1931), American chemist sometimes known as the “Father of Geochemistry,” credited with having determined composition of the Earth’s crust
Andrew T. J. Clarke (1860-1955), American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Canterbury, 1891-92, 1923-28; Member of Connecticut State Senate 29th District, 1931-32 [30]