 A scribe or clerk, the occupation from which the name derives | |
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | Old English |
| Meaning | Clerk, scribe, secretary |
| Region of origin | England |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Clarke, Clerk |
| Frequency Comparisons[1] | |
Clark is an English language surname with historical links to England, Scotland, and Ireland,[2] ultimately derived from the Latin clericus meaning "scribe", "secretary" or a scholar within a religious order, referring to someone who was educated. Clark evolved from "clerk". First records of the name are found in 12th-century England. The name has many variants.[3]
Clark is the twenty-seventh most common surname in the United Kingdom,[1] including placing fourteenth in Scotland.[4] Clark is also an occasional given name, as in the case of Clark Gable.
According to the 1990 United States Census, Clark was the twenty-first most frequently encountered surname, accounting for 0.23% of the population.[5]
- ^ a b "Clark Surname Meaning, Origins & Distribution". Forebears.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-06-11. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ Clarke coat of arms, family crest and family history". irishsurnames.com. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
- ^ "Surname Clark". Surnamedb.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-13. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ "100 Most Common Surnames | National Records of Scotland". Nrscotland.gov.uk. 2014-09-25. Archived from the original on 2017-07-02. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
- ^ United States Census Bureau (9 May 1995). s:1990 Census Name Files/dist.all.last (1-100). Retrieved on 2021-07-27.