How common is the CLEARY surname?

There are approximately 8,000 people with the surname CLEARY in the United States.

Are there CLEARY soldiers in Civil War records?

Yes, 382 soldiers with the CLEARY surname appear in Civil War records.

CLEARY

Q: What does the surname CLEARY mean?

The surname CLEARY means "Derived from the Irish 'Ó Cléirigh,' meaning descendant of Cleirigh, a name possibly related to clergy or learned persons.". It is of Irish origin.

Patronymic

Meaning

Derived from the Irish 'Ó Cléirigh,' meaning descendant of Cleirigh, a name possibly related to clergy or learned persons.

Etymology

The surname comes from the Irish patronymic 'Ó Cléirigh,' where 'Ó' means 'descendant of' and 'Cléirigh' may derive from 'cleirigh' (clerk, scholar). The name was Anglicized from its original Irish form during the medieval period.

About the CLEARY Surname

An Irish patronymic surname with possible connections to clerical or scholarly professions. The name has a strong presence in Irish-American communities.

Distribution & Frequency

Estimated 8,000 bearers in the United States #1,263 most common surname

Rare Common

Primarily found in Ireland and Irish diaspora communities, particularly in the United States.

CLEARY Surname Distribution

Geographic distribution based on Civil War military records.

Fewer

People with the CLEARY Surname

William E. Cleary

HONORABLE

Quick Facts

Origin: Irish
Classification: Patronymic
Earliest Record: Medieval Ireland, likely 12th-13th century
Estimated Bearers: 8,000

War Records

382 soldiers with the CLEARY surname found in Civil War records.

Search war records →