Cleary Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Cleary last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Cleary last name
Meaning of the Cleary last name: descendant of the clerk. Cleary comes from Ó Cléirigh, "descendant of the clerk", from cléireach, a cleric or scholar. The family is one of the oldest recorded in Ireland. They took their name from Cléireach, who lived in the 10th century, and were linked with the kings of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne around Kilmacduagh in south Galway. After losing their lands to the Anglo-Normans, branches moved to Cavan, Kilkenny and Tipperary, and to Donegal, where they became hereditary historians to the O'Donnells. Brother Mícheál Ó Cléirigh led the team of scholars who compiled the great Donegal annals in the 1630s. Spellings include O'Clery, Clery and Clarke, as the name was often translated. The name is common in Munster, especially Tipperary and Cork, and many Clearys emigrated to the United States, England and Australia.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Cleary name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Cleary name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Cleary name FAQ
What does the Cleary name mean?
Descendant of the clerk. Common variants include Clery, O'Cleary, Clarke.
Where does the Cleary surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Cleary coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Cleary crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Cleary 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); US Census Bureau 2010.