Surname Cleary - Meaning and Origin

Unravelling History and Heritage: My DNA Journey with iGENEA and the Cleary Name

My journey with iGENEA DNA analysis map my ancestral origins, revealing centuries old secrets carried by my surname, Cleary. From a simple swab test sent via post, I discovered a trove of information about the roots and the migratory story of my family, extending my understanding of my heritage in unprecedented ways.

J. Cleary

Cleary: What does the surname Cleary mean?

The last name Cleary is of Irish origin and is derived from an Old Gaelic surname, which translates roughly to “clarach” meaning “little and bright”. The surname is mainly found in counties Cork, Monaghan, and Wexford in Ireland. Historically, Cleary families were associated with the Gaelic ruling class and held positions of importance within the clans that lived in these areas.

The Cleary surname is associated with many different forms of the name, including Clery, Cleerey, Clair, Cleary, Clearyus, and Cleiy. These spelling variations may have occurred due to many factors such as incorrect translations of the original Gaelic name, general carelessness, or the need to easily integrate with the local population in the areas in which the family settled.

The Cleary family crest is a combination of a lion rampant and a boar’s passant. The lion represents courage and leadership, while the boar symbolizes fierceness and resoluteness in the face of adversity. No matter the location or time period, individuals with the Cleary surname have held these traits dear to their own hearts.

Overall, the Cleary surname has an illustrious history that is rich in tradition and symbolism. The surname has seen many geographical, linguistic, and cultural changes throughout the centuries, but the meaning behind the name remains unchanged and is still proudly held by individuals today.

Cleary: Where does the name Cleary come from?

The last name Cleary is an Irish name which is found mainly in the Republic of Ireland as well as the United Kingdom, but has spread throughout the world. In Ireland it is most common in the province of Munster, particularly counties Limerick, Tipperary, and Cork.

The name Cleary is derived from the Irish surname O Cléirigh, meaning “descendant of Cléireach”, an occupational name deriving from the word ‘cleireach’ which means ‘clergyman’ or ‘clerk’.

In England, the Cleary name is primarily found in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire. Scotland is also populated by the descendants of the Irish people who moved there in great numbers. The surname is mostly found in Ayrshire, Midlothian, Stirlingshire, and Lanarkshire.

In the United States the Clearys name can be found throughout the country, but is most common in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

In Australia the Cleary family name is mainly located in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia. Canada also has its share of Clearys with pockets of concentration in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. In New Zealand the surname is also quite pervasive, and is found throughout the North Island, as well as the South Island.

The Cleary name is also popular in a number of other European countries, such as France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. It is also commonly found in countries of the Caribbean.

In summary, the Cleary surname is widespread throughout the world. It is most common in Ireland, the UK, and the US, with other pockets found in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Europe. The Caribbean is also a popular destination for the Cleary family name.

Variations of the surname Cleary

Cleary is a common surname of Irish and English origin. Variants of the surname Cleary include: Clarey, O'Clary, Clary, O'Clarey, O'Cleary, O'Clairy, Cleere, Cleary, Cleere, Cleer, and O'Cleere.

In Irish, the surname Cleary is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "O'Cleirigh." The Gaelic phrase "O'Cleirigh" is the descendant of a personal name made up of two elements: "O" meaning "of," and the personal name Cleireach, which means "clerk" in English. The term "cleireach" is derived from the Latin word "clericus,” meaning "cleric."

In England, the surname Cleary is derived from the Middle English word "cleric," meaning "clergyman." This is further derived from the Latin word "clericus," meaning "cleric."

The variants of the surname Cleary in Ireland can be traced to different parts of the country. The Clarey surname is found mainly in the west of Ireland, while O'Clary is commonly found in the southwest and parts of the midlands. Variants of the Cleary surname such as O'Cleary, O'Clairy, and O'Cleere are predominantly found in the counties of Clare, Mayo, Galway, and Tipperary.

In the United States, variants of the name Cleary have been found as early as 1637. The spelling of this name can vary greatly in different regions of the country, with Cleary and Cleere, and O'Cleary being among the more popular variants that can be found throughout the United States.

Famous people with the name Cleary

• Thomas Cleary: an American author and translator of dozens of books on the subject of Eastern and Western spirituality and philosophy.
• Brent Cleary: a professional Canadian golfer who has won multiple Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour titles.
• Tim Cleary: an American figure skater who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
• Mike Cleary: a retired American basketball player who won the 1991 National Player of the Year award and two NCAA Division I championships with Duke University.
• Debbie Cleary: a former American collegiate gymnast whose victories include NCAA championships in all-around, vault, and beam.
• Lynda Cleary: an Irish former Olympic swimmer who competed in the freestyle and butterfly events at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
• Damien Cleary: an Irish singer-songwriter and composer who has released several albums and performed extensively in the United States and Canada.
• Eugene Cleary: an Australian footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions in the AFL and represented his national team in multiple international tournaments.
• Chris Cleary: an American professional volleyball player who represented the US at the 2010 World League and was later a runner-up in the 2016 Olympic games.
• Genevieve Cleary: an American actress who has appeared in several television shows and movies, including The Big Bang Theory and Spider-Man 3.

Other surnames

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