Clare (surname)
Clare is a surname of English or Irish origin. The name is most often derived from the titular de Clare first held by Richard fitz Gilbert, a Welsh lord from a Norman family, who took it from Clare, Suffolk. The name is also prevalent among families of Irish origin, both from de Clare and from etymologically unrelated place names such as Clare County, Clare Island and River Clare in Ireland which attests to a long historical relationship with those places.
Notable people with the surname Clare
- Alex Clare, English singer-songwriter
- Alfred Clare, English Registrar
- Alys Clare, author of English historical whodunnit novels
- Anthony Clare, Irish psychiatrist and broadcaster
- Cassandra Clare, American author of young adult fiction
- Craig Clare, New Zealand professional rugby union player
- Daryl Clare, Jersey-born Irish professional footballer and manager
- Denny Clare, American baseball player
- Diane Clare, English film and television actress
- Dustin Clare, Australian actor
- George Clare (disambiguation), several people
- Horatio Clare, author and journalist
- Ina Clare, British actress
- James Clare (disambiguation), several people
- Jason Clare, Australian politician
- Jillian Clare, American actress and singer
- John Clare (disambiguation), several people
- Jonathan Clare, English cricketer
- Kerry and Lindsay Clare, Australian wife and husband architects
- Leanne Clare, Australian judge
- Madelyn Clare, American actress
- Mary Clare, English actress
- Natalia Clare, American ballet dancer and instructor
- Octavius Leigh-Clare, English barrister and politician
- Osbert of Clare, English monk
- Patti Clare, English actress
- Robert Clare, English professional football player and manager
- Roy Clare, English Royal Navy admiral and senior civil servant
- Sheldon Clare, Canadian politician
- Sidney Clare, American comedian, dancer and composer
- Thomas Clare (disambiguation), several people
Notable people with the surname de Clare
- de Clare family, a Norman and English aristocratic family in medieval times
- Amice de Clare, daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford
- Gilbert de Clare (disambiguation), various people
- Isabel de Clare (disambiguation), several people
- Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
- Richard fitz Gilbert, 1st Lord of Clare, known as "Robert de Clare"
- Richard de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford
- Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent