Clarke - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Cléirigh
Meaning: “clerk, cleric”
Traditional stronghold: Galway, Cavan
The Ó Cléirigh were famed scribes and historians.
Pronunciation: KLARK; Irish O Cleirigh: oh KLAIR-ee
History of the Clarke name
Clarke in Ireland most often represents an anglicisation of O Cleirigh, 'descendant of the clerk', an occupational name referring to a learned man attached to the church, since clerics historically were among the few literate members of society. The O'Clearys were a distinguished learned family of County Donegal, best known for producing the compilers of the Annals of the Four Masters in the 17th century. The surname also exists as a genuine English settler name in its own right. Because 'clerk' was a valued and widespread role, the name arose independently in several areas, and Clarke/Clark is now one of the commonest surnames across Ireland, Britain and the wider English-speaking world.
Variants: Clark · O'Clery · Clery
Famous bearers of the name
- Thomas Clarke - signatory of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic
- Austin Clarke - 20th-century Irish poet
- Kathleen Clarke - Irish revolutionary and first female Lord Mayor of Dublin
- Darren Clarke - Northern Irish professional golfer, 2011 Open champion
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Kelly · Lynch · Connolly · Burke · Brady · O'Reilly · McGowan · Smith