The Clarke Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Clarke, its origins in Ireland, and the story behind a Clarke family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Clarke coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Clarke name
In Ireland, Clarke usually anglicizes Ó Cléirigh, "descendant of the cleric", one of the earliest hereditary surnames in Europe, taken from Cléireach, a chief in south Galway in the 800s. One branch moved to Donegal and became hereditary historians, among them Mícheál Ó Cléirigh of the Annals of the Four Masters. The name is now common in Cavan, Louth and Dublin.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Clarke name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Clarke name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as England, the United States and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Clarke family history
The complete Clarke pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Clarke name FAQ
What does the Clarke name mean?
Descendant of the cleric. Common variants include Clark, O'Clery, Cleary, Ó Cléirigh.
Where does the Clarke surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in England, the United States and Australia.
Is there a Clarke coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Clarke crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Clarke coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).