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Clark Name History

Clark Irish Coat of Arms

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Clark or Clarke are a popular surname in Ireland. The Irish version of the surname is believed to have come from County Galway and County Antrim and spread to County Donegal and County Dublin. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic sept Ó Cléirigh, meaning "clerk."

Clark, as well as Clarke, is also a widespread surname in England. The English version comes from Anglo-Saxon origin and was used in the Middle Ages for the name of a scribe or secretary. The word "clerc" came from the pre-7th Century Olde English "Cler(e)c" (meaning priest) originally denoted to a member of a religious order only, but later grew rapidly outside the religious order. In the Middle Ages virtually the only people who could read and write were members of the religious order, making the word heavily associated with literacy. Thus the surname became a popular term for a literate man, particularly for the professional secretary and the scholar.

Learn more about the Clark family

The Framed Irish Family Name History, (#1760) has more information on the Clark surname. There is a wide selection of Clark coat of arms products at The Irish Rose. Please visit the Irish Coat of Arms page.

Visit Clark or Clarke Pubs in Ireland

There are at least two pubs boasting the Clark or Clarke name in Ireland:

If you can't visit in person, our personalized pub gifts are the next best thing!

Notable people named Clark

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