Clark is an English language

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

, ultimately derived from the Latin with historical links to England, Scotland, and Ireland ''clericus'' meaning "scribe", "secretary" or a scholar within a religious order, referring to someone who was educated. ''Clark'' evolved from " clerk". First records of the name are found in 12th-century England. The name has many variants. ''Clark'' is the twenty-seventh most common surname in the United Kingdom, including placing fourteenth in Scotland. Clark is also an occasional

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

, as in the case of Clark Gable. According to the 1990 United States Census, ''Clark'' was the twenty-first most frequently encountered surname, accounting for 0.23% of the population. United States Census Bureau (9 May 1995). s:1990 Census Name Files/dist.all.last (1-100). Retrieved on 2021-07-27. Notable people with the surname include:

Disambiguation pages

* Anne Clark (disambiguation), multiple people * Brian Clark (disambiguation), multiple people *

Cameron Clark (disambiguation) Cameron Clark may refer to: * Cameron Clark (American football) (born 1997), American football offensive tackle * Cameron Clark (basketball) (born 1991), American basketball player * Cameron Clark (footballer, born 2000), Scottish association footb ...

, multiple people * Charles Clark (disambiguation), multiple people *

Chris Clark (disambiguation) Chris Clark may refer to: * Chris Clark (American football) (born 1985), player on the Houston Texans American football team * Chris Clark (deminer) (born 1964), mine action expert * Chris Clark (crime writer) (born 1945/6), author who writes about ...

, multiple people *

Clive Clark (disambiguation) Clive Clark may refer to: * Clive Clark (golfer) (born 1945), English golfer * Clive Clark (footballer) (1940–2014), English former footballer See also * Clive Clarke Clive Richard Luke Clarke (born 14 January 1980) is an Irish former foo ...

, multiple people *

Colin Clark (disambiguation) Colin Clark may refer to: *Colin Clark (economist) (1905–1989), British and Australian economist and statistician *Colin Clark (filmmaker) (1932–2002), British writer and filmmaker *Colin Clark (politician) (born 1969), British politician *Coli ...

John Clark (disambiguation) John Clark may refer to: Entertainment *John Clark or Signor Brocolini (1841–1906), Irish-born American operatic singer and actor * John Clark (actor) (born 1932), English actor and theatre director *John Clark (American actor) (1933–2011), ...

, multiple people *

Jonathan Clark (disambiguation) Jonathan Clark may refer to: *Jonathan Clark (cricketer) (born 1981), South African cricketer *Jonathan Clark (soldier) (1750–1811), U.S. general, older brother of George Rogers Clark and William Clark *Jonathan Clark (footballer) (born 1958), We ...

, multiple people *

Joseph Clark (disambiguation) Joseph or Joe Clark may refer to: Arts *Joseph Clark (painter) (1834–1926), English painter in oils known for domestic scenes *Joseph Clayton Clark (1857–1937), English artist who worked as "Kyd", illustrator of the novels of Charles Dickens * ...

, multiple people * Ken Clark (disambiguation), multiple people *

Kenneth Clark (disambiguation) Kenneth Clark (1903–1983) was an English art historian and television presenter. Kenneth, Ken(ny) Clark or Kenneth Clarke may also refer to: Sports Gridiron football * Kenny Clark (wide receiver) (born 1978), American football wide receiver * ...

, multiple people *

Lee Clark (disambiguation) Lee Clark may refer to: * Lee Clark (footballer) (born 1972), former English footballer and manager * Lee Clark (politician) (1936–2008), Canadian Member of Parliament from Manitoba * Lee Anna Clark, professor in the department of psychology at t ...

, multiple people *

Mary Clark (disambiguation) Mary Clark may refer to: * Mary Clark (printer) (active 1677–1696), London printer and publisher *Mary Clark Thompson (1835–1923), philanthropist and wife of banker Frederick Ferris Thompson *Mary Kitson Clark (1905–2005), British archaeologi ...

, multiple people * Paul Clark (disambiguation), multiple people * Robert Clark (disambiguation), multiple people *

Ryan Clark (disambiguation) Ryan Clark may refer to: * Ryan Clark (American football) (born 1979), NFL football player * Ryan Clark (actor) (born 1983), Australian former actor, best known for Home and Away and lifeguard * Ryan Clark (musician) (born 1979), co-founder of the ...

, multiple people *

Sally Clark (disambiguation) Sally Clark (1964–2007) was an English victim of a miscarriage of justice who was falsely convicted and imprisoned for the murder of her two infant sons. Sally Clark may also refer to: *Sally Clark (playwright) (born 1953), Canadian playwright an ...

, multiple people * Samuel Clark (disambiguation), multiple people *

Simon Clark (disambiguation) Simon Clark may refer to: *Simon Clark (novelist) (born 1958), English horror novel writer *Simon Clark (broadcaster) (born 1960), British television sports presenter and correspondent * Simon Clark (Australian footballer) (born 1967), Australian ru ...

, multiple people *

Terry Clark (disambiguation) Terry Clark may refer to: * Terry Clark (RAF officer) (1919–2020), British Royal Air Force veteran of the Battle of Britain * Terry Clark (drug smuggler) (1944–1983), New Zealand-born drug smuggler and convicted murderer * Terry Clark (musici ...

, multiple people * Thomas Clark (disambiguation), multiple people *

William Clark (disambiguation) William Clark (1770–1838) was an American soldier and explorer; governor of Missouri Territory. William Clark may also refer to: Business * W. H. Clark (brewer) (William Henry Clark, c. 1815–c. 1870), brewer in South Australia * William Bell ...

, multiple people

Arts and literature

* Alton Dorian Clark (born 1984), better known as American hip-hop musician

Dorian Dorian may refer to: Ancient Greece * Dorians, one of the main ethnic divisions of ancient Greeks * Doric Greek, or Dorian, the dialect spoken by the Dorians Art and entertainment Films * ''Dorian'' (film), the Canadian title of the 2004 film ' ...

* Andy Clark (musician), British musician * Ann Clarke (born 1944), Canadian artist * Annie Erin Clark, better known under her stage name

St. Vincent (musician) Anne Erin Clark (born September 28, 1982), known professionally as St. Vincent, is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. Her music is noted for its complex arrangements utilizing a wide array of instruments. St. Vincent is the recipient ...

(born 1982), American singer, songwriter, and musician *Appleton P. Clark Jr. (1865–1955), American architect *Blake Clark (born 1946), American actor and stand-up comedian *Bob Clark (Benjamin "Bob" Clark) (1941–2007), an American director *Buddy Clark (1911–1949), American singer *Catherine Clark (broadcaster), Catherine Clark (born 1976), Canadian television host *Chris Clark (musician) (born 1979), British musician, known by the mononym "Clark" *Christian Clark (born 1978), Australian actor *Claudine Clark (born 1941), American R&B singer and performer of the 1962 hit record "Party Lights" *Cora Mildred Maris Clark (1885–1967), New Zealand hockey player and nurse *Dave Clark (musician) (born 1939), English drummer of The Dave Clark Five * Dorothy Park Clark (1899–1983), American novelist who wrote under the pen name Clark McMeekin *Dodie Clark (born 1995), English musician, YouTuber, and author *Donté Clark, American poet, actor *Ernest Clark (1912–1994), British actor *Florence Anderson Clark (1835–1918), American author, newspaper editor, librarian, university dean *Guy Clark (1941–2016), American musician, songwriter, recording artist, and performer *Helen Taggart Clark (1849–1918), American journalist, poet *Hilda Margery Clarke (1926–2022), English painter and curator *Jean Clark (artist) (1902–1999), English artist *Joseph Benwell Clark (1857–1938), English artist *Joshua Clark, (born 1980), American writer *Ken Clark (actor), (1921–2009), American actor *Laura Lee Clark (born 1964), American interior designer *Libby Clark (?-2012), American journalist *Lizzy Clark (born 1994), English actor *Louis Clark (1947–2021), musician and conductor with The Orchestra (successor band to ELO and ELO Part II) *Robin Clark (pop singer), (born 1949), 1960s American pop singer *Roy Clark (1933–2018), American singer and musician *Spencer Treat Clark (born 1987), American actor *Stephen R. L. Clark (born 1945), English philosopher *Steve Clark (1960–1991), British guitarist for Def Leppard *Tom Clark (journalist), Canadian television journalist *Vicky A. Clark, American art curator *Vinnie B. Clark (1878–1971), American educator and author *Wallis Clark (1882–1961), English actor *William Clark (artist) (1803–1883), Scottish artist

Business

*Allen George Clark (1898–1962), British businessman *Arnold Clark (1927–2017), Scottish businessman *Hilda Clark (model) (1872–1932), American Coca-Cola advertising spokesperson *Jonas Gilman Clark (1815–1900), American businessman and the founder of Clark University *Lance Clark (1936–2018), English businessman, of the shoe retailers Clarks *Myron Henry Clark (1881–1953), American management consultant *Shawn M. Clark (born ), American organizational theorist

Politics and law

*Abraham Clark (1725–1794), American politician and Revolutionary War figure *Alan Clark (1928–1999), British Conservative politician and author, son of Kenneth Clark *Alistair Clark, Lord Clark (), Scottish judge, senator of the College of Justice *Augusta Clark (1932–2013), American librarian, lawyer and politician *Barbara M. Clark (1939–2016), New York politician *Benjamin S. W. Clark (1829–1912), a New York politician *Billy J. Clark (1778–1866), a New York physician and politician *Boyd A. Clark (1918–1978), an American politician and jurist *Darius Clark (1798–1871), New York physician and politician *Frank M. Clark (1915–2003), American Congressman *Gavin Brown Clark (1846–1930), MP for Caithness *Greenleaf Clark (1835–1904), American jurist *Helen Clark (born 1950), prime minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008 *Horace Clark (assemblyman), 1830s New York politician *Horace F. Clark (1815–1873), US Congressman from New York *Isabella Clark (1809–1857), wife of Prime Minister of Canada Sir John A. Macdonald *Janet H. Clark (born 1941), Minnesota politician *Joe Clark (born 1939), former prime minister of Canada *Karen Clark (politician) (born 1945), American politician from Minnesota *Katy Clark (born 1967), Scottish politician and trade union official *Kelly Clark (lawyer) (1957–2013), American lawyer *Maureen Harding Clark (born 1946), Irish jurist *Newcomb Clark (1840–1913), Michigan politician *Orville Clark (1801–1862), New York politician *Ramsey Clark (1927–2021), US attorney general and activist *Rita Clark (1915–2008), member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives *Satterlee Clark, American politician *Septima Poinsette Clark (1898–1987), American educator and voting registration leader * Sir Terence Clark (born 1934), British retired diplomat and writer *Tom C. Clark (1899–1977), US attorney general, U.S. Supreme Court justice *Zenas Clark (1795–1864), New York politician

Science and medicine

*Adam Clark (meteorologist), Adam Clark, American meteorologist *Benjamin Preston Clark (1860–1939), an American entomologist *Bracy Clark (1771–1860), English veterinary surgeon specialising in the horse *Cynthia Clark (born 1942), American statistician *Daniel Kinnear Clark (1822–1896), Scottish railway mechanical engineer *Duncan W. Clark (1910–2007), American public health specialist *Gerry Clark (1927–1999), New Zealand sailor and ornithologist *Grahame Clark (1907–1995), British archaeologist *Hamlet Clark (1823–1867), English entomologist *Hilda Clark (doctor) (1881–1955), Quaker physician and humanitarian *Hubert Lyman Clark (1870–1947), American zoologist *Judson Freeman Clark (1870–1942), Canadian forester and mycologist *Leslie J. Clark (1924–2003), British engineer and founder of Parvalux *Lynn G. Clark (born 1956), American botanist *Noel A. Clark (born 1940), American physicist *Wilfrid Le Gros Clark (1895–1971), British palaeoanthropologist

Sports

*Alysha Clark (born 1987), American-Israeli basketball player *Babe Clark, American football player *Caitlin Clark (born 2002), American basketball player *Calum Clark (born 1989), English rugby union player *Carmel Clark (born 1965), New Zealand swimmer *Chuck Clark (born 1995), American football player *Chuck Clark (ice hockey) (1891–1970), British-born Canadian ice hockey player *Ciaran Clark (born 1989), Irish football player *Corrie Clark (born 1982), American breaststroke swimmer *Dallas Clark, American football player *Damone Clark (born 2000), American football player *Daniel Clark (basketball), Daniel Clark (born 1988), British basketball player *Darion Clark (born 1994), American football player *Duncan Clark (athlete) (1915–2003), Scottish hammer thrower *Dwight Clark (1957–2018), American football player *Earl Clark, American basketball player *Elky Clark (1898–1956), Scottish boxer of the 1920s *Emily Clark (ice hockey), Emily Clark (born 1995), Canadian ice hockey player *Frank Clark (footballer), English football player *Ginger Clark (1879–1943), American baseball pitcher *Glenn Clark (born 1969), Canadian coach of Toronto Rock *Hannah Clark (born 1990), English cricketer *Jeremy Clark (defensive back) (born 1994), American football player *Kelly Clark (born 1983), American snowboarder *Kihei Clark (born 2000), American–Filipino basketball player *Le'Raven Clark (born 1993), American football player *Leon Clark (basketball), American basketball player *Ocky Clark (born 1960), American middle-distance runner *Otey Clark (1915–2010), American baseball pitcher *R. Foster Clark, American college sports coach *Ranza Clark (born 1961), Canadian middle-distance runner *Roger Clark, British rally driver *Sherm Clark (1899–1980), American Olympic rower and rear admiral *Stuart Clark (born 1975), Australian cricketer *Wendel Clark (born 1966), retired Canadian ice hockey player *Will Clark (born 1964), American baseball player *Zoey Clark (born 1994), British sprinter

Other

*Alice Clark (historian) (1874–1934), English suffragist and historian *Annie W. Clark (1843-1907), American social reformer *Alister Clark (1864–1949), Australian rose-breeder *Clark Olofsson (born 1947), Swedish criminal *Davis Wasgatt Clark (1812–1871), American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church *Felton Grandison Clark (1903–1970), African-American university president *Harold M. Clark (1890–1919), American army major *Hugh Massey Clark (1886–1956), New York philatelist *Hulda Regehr Clark, (1928–2009), alternative medicine practitioner *Joseph Samuel Clark (1871–1944), African-American university president *Manning Clark (1915–1991), Australian historian *Mark W. Clark (1896–1984), American army general in World War 2 (Italy) and the Korean War *Nada Hazel Clark (1922–1964), New Zealand trade unionist *Nancy B. Clark, Massachusetts philatelist, president of Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum *R. Scott Clark (born 1961) American seminary professor *Theresa Mathilde Clark (–1953), New York philatelist, spouse of Hugh Massey Clark *Wesley Clark (born 1944), American army general in the Vietnam War and Kosovo *Carlos Clark Van Leer (1865–1953), American military officer

Fictional characters

* David Clark, a character in the 2013 American crime comedy movie ''We're the Millers#Cast, We're the Millers'' *John Clark (Tom Clancy character), character in Tom Clancy's Ryanverse *Tracy Clark, fictional character from The CW primetime drama ''90210'' *Clark Kent, secret identity of DC Superhero Superman *Clark Griswold, fictional character from ''National Lampoon's Vacation'' film series.

References

External links

Clark(e) Surname DNA Project
* {{surname English-language surnames Occupational surnames Surnames of English origin Surnames of Scottish origin English-language occupational surnames