Clark is an English language surname, ultimately derived from the Latin 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, 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. Notable people with the surname include:
Abraham Clark (1725–1794), American politician and Revolutionary War figureAdam Clark, American meteorologistAlan Clark (1928–1999), British Conservative politician and author, son of Kenneth ClarkAlistair Clark, Lord Clark (fl. 2016), Scottish judge, Senator of the College of JusticeAlister Clark (1864–1949), Australian rose-breederAllen George Clark (1898–1962), British businessmanAndy Clark (musician), British musicianAnne Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleAnne Erin Clark, better known under her stage name St. Vincent (musician) (born 1982), American singer, songwriter, and musicianAppleton P. Clark, Jr. (1865-1955), American architectAugusta Clark (1932–2013), American librarian, lawyer and politicianBabe Clark, American football playerBarbara M. Clark (1939-2016), New York politicianBenjamin Preston Clark (1860-1939), an American entomologistBenjamin S. W. Clark (1829–1912), a New York politicianBilly J. Clark (1778–1866), a New York physician and politicianBob Clark (Benjamin "Bob" Clark) (1941–2007), an American directorBoyd A. Clark (1918-1978), an American politician and juristBracy Clark (1771–1860), an English veterinary surgeon specialising in the horseBrian Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleBuddy Clark (1911–1949), American singerCarmel Clark (born 1965), New Zealand swimmerCatherine Clark (born 1976), Canadian television hostCharles Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleChris Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleChristian Clark (born 1979), Australian actorClaudine Clark, R&B singer and performer of the 1962 hit record "Party Lights"Clive Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleClive Clark (footballer) (1940–2014), English footballerColin Clark (disambiguation)Corrie Clark (born 1982), American breaststroke swimmerDallas Clark, American football playerDaniel Kinnear Clark (1822–1896), Scottish railway mechanical engineerDarius Clark (1798–1871), New York physician and politicianDave Clark (musician) (born 1942), drummer of The Dave Clark FiveDavid Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleDavis Wasgatt Clark (1812–1871), American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal ChurchDick Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleDick Clark (1929–2012), entertainer and producer, host of Pyramid and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' EveDouglas Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleDuncan Clark (athlete) (1915–2003), Scottish hammer throwerDuncan W. Clark (1910–2007), American public health specialistDwight Clark, American football playerEarl Clark, American Basketball playerEdward Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleEdward Clark (1888–1962), English conductor and music producerElky Clark (1898-1956), Scottish boxer of the 1920sErnest Clark (1912–1994), British actorEugene Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleFrank Clark (footballer), English football playerFrank M. Clark (1915–2003), American CongressmanGavin Brown Clark (1846–1930), MP for CaithnessGeorge Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleGerry Clark (1927–1999), New Zealand sailor and ornithologistGinger Clark (1879–1943), American baseball pitcherGlenn Clark (born 1969), Canadian coach of Toronto RockGrahame Clark (1907-1995), British archaeologistGreenleaf Clark (1835-1904), American juristGuy Clark (1941–2016), American Texas country and folk singer, musician, songwriter, recording artist, and performerHelen Clark (born 1950), Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008Hilda Clark (1872–1932), American Coca-Cola advertising spokespersonHilda Margery Clarke (born 1926), English painter and curatorHorace Clark, 1830s New York politicianHorace F. Clark (1815–1873), US Congressman from New YorkHugh Massey Clark (1886–1956), New York philatelistHulda Regehr Clark, alternative medicine practitionerIsabella Clark, wife of Prime Minister of Canada Sir John A. MacdonaldJack Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleJames Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleJason Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleJeff Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleJim Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleJoe Clark (born 1939), former Prime Minister of CanadaJohn Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleJonas Gilman Clark (1815–1900), American businessman and the founder of Clark UniversityJonathan Clark (disambiguation)Joseph Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleJoshua Clark, (born 1980), American writerKaren Clark (born 1945), American politician from MinnesotaKaren Clark (born 1960), American gospel four-time Grammy Award-winning singerKaty Clark (born 1967), Scottish politician and trade union officialKelly Clark (born 1983), American snowboarderKelly Clark (lawyer) (1957–2013), American lawyerKen Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleKenneth Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleLeslie J. Clark (1924–2003), British engineer and founder of ParvaluxLouis Clark, musician and conductor with the Orchestra (former members of ELO and ELO Part II)Lynn G. Clark, American botanistManning Clark (1915–1991), Australian historianMarcus R. Clark (born 1956), Louisiana Supreme Court justiceMark Wayne Clark (1896–1984), American army general in WW2 (Italy) and the Korean WarNancy B. Clark, person of Marstons Mills, MassachusettsOcky Clark (born 1960), American middle distance runnerOrville Clark (1801–1862), New York politicianOtey Clark (born 1915), American baseball pitcherR. Foster Clark, American college sports coachR. Scott Clark (born 1961) American seminary professorRamsey Clark (born 1927), U.S. Attorney General and activistRanza Clark (born 1961), Canadian middle distance runnerRobert Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleRobin Clark (pop singer), (born 1949), 1960s American pop singerRoger Clark, British rally driverRyan Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleSamuel Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleSamuel Delbert Clark (1910–2003), Canadian sociologistSatterlee Clark, Jr., American politicianShawn M. Clark (born ca 1964), American organizational theoristSherman Clark (1899–1980), American Olympic rower and Rear AdmiralSimon Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleSteve Clark (1960–1991), British guitarist for Def LeppardStuart Clark (born 1975), Australian cricketerSir Terence Clark (born 1934), British retired diplomat and writerTheresa Maria Clark (c. 1890 – 1953), person of New YorkThomas Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleTom Clark (journalist), Canadian television journalistTom C. Clark (1899–1977), U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Supreme Court justiceTracy Clark, fictional character from The CW primetime drama 90210Wendel Clark (born 1966), retired Canadian ice hockey playerWesley K. Clark (born 1944), American Army General in the Vietnam War and KosovoWilfrid Le Gros Clark (1895–1971), British palaeanthropologistWill Clark (born 1964), American baseball playerWilliam Clark (disambiguation), multiple peopleZenas Clark (1795–1864), New York politician
