Frequency: (6370)
(number of times this surname appears in a sample database of 88.7 million names, representing one third of the 1997 US population)
Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cléirigh (or Mac Cléirigh) ‘descendant (or son) of the scribe, clerk, or cleric (cléireach)’, also commonly Anglicized as Clark.
GIVEN NAMES: Irish 5%. Brendan (4), Malachy (4), Aileen (2), Brigid (2), Ronan (2), Aine, Bridie, Egan, William Kevin.
See the Key to the Dictionary or consult the General Introduction for further explanation.
