Cleary is an Irish surname; which derives from Gaelic Ó Cléirigh/Mac Cleirigh, meaning 'descendent or son of cleric. it may relate to:
Bernard Cleary (born 1937), Canadian politicianBeverly Cleary (born 1916), American authorBill Cleary (born 1934), American hockey playerBrendan Cleary (born 1958), Irish poetBrian P. Cleary (born 1959), American humorist, poet and authorDaniel Cleary (born 1978), Canadian hockey playerGabriel Cleary, Irish engineerIvan Cleary, rugby league footballer and coachJoe Cleary (1918–2004), Irish baseball playerJohn Cleary (disambiguation)Jon Cleary (born 1917), Australian authorJon Cleary (musician) (born 1962), American musicianMark Cleary (professor) (born 1954), Vice-Chancellor of the University of BradfordMichael Cleary, various includingMichael Cleary (rugby) (born 1940), Australian politician and dual-code rugby footballerMichael J. Cleary (Roman Catholic Bishop) (born 1925), Irish bishopMichael Cleary (hurler) (born 1966), former Irish hurler for Nenagh Éire Óg and TipperaryFather Michael Cleary (died 1993), Irish Roman Catholic priestNikki Cleary (born 1988), American singerPaul Cleary (born 1976), Australian middle-distance runnerPhil Cleary (born 1952), Australian commentatorPatrick Roger Cleary, founder of Cleary UniversitySean Cleary (footballer) (born 1983), Irish football playerSean Cleary (rugby league), Irish rugby league footballerThomas Cleary, author & translatorTimothy Patrick Cleary, (1900–1962), New Zealand lawyer and judgeWilliam J. Cleary (1870–1952), American politician