This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Clear family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Clear Family History

Clear Surname Meaning

English (southeastern England of Norman origin): from Clere, the French popular form of the personal name Clare 2 and possibly interchangeable with it or confused with it.

English (southeastern): probably a habitational name from clere, a component of several placenames in north Hampshire (Highclere, Burghclere, Kingsclere).

This is probably from a Celtic stream name meaning ‘bright’ (cognate with Latin clarus ‘clear, bright’).

Americanized form (translation into English) of German Klar.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Clear family from?

You can see how Clear families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Clear family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Clear families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 129 Clear families living in London. This was about 21% of all the recorded Clear's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Clear families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Clear surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Clear ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Clear. 15% of Clear men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Clear women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Clear were Railway Clerk and Private Means.

View Census Data for Clear | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    15%
  • Cowman
    9%
  • Stevedore
    8%
  • Railway Clerk
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Clear family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 30,000 census records available for the last name Clear. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Clear census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Clear

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Clear. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Clear immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Clear. For the veterans among your Clear ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Clear military records

You've only scratched the surface of Clear family history

Discover More

What is the average Clear lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Clear life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1965. The average life expectancy for Clear in 1943 was 42, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Clear

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Clear ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Clear family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial