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    The History of the Clarke name began with the Ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from a person who concerned himself with matters of scholarly importance or of religious orders or as a secretary. The surname CLARKE originally derived from the Latin form “clericus.” Extensive research into some of the most ancient documents has revealed the CLARKE surname to be of Anglo-Saxon origin. Our heritage belongs to a culture which has shaped England more than any other.
Professional historians have examined reproductions of such ancient manuscripts as the Domesday Book (1086), the Ragman Rolls (1291-1296), the Curia Regis Rolls, The Pipe Rolls, the Hearth Rolls, parish registers, baptismals, tax records and other ancient documents. They found the first record of the name CLARKE in Kent where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
    Throughout the centuries the name, CLARKE, occurred in many records, manuscripts and documents but not always with the exact spelling. From time to time the surname included the spellings Clarke, Clerke and these variations in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. Scribes and church officials, frequently spelled the names phonetically. In addition, official court languages such as Latin and French influenced the spelling of a name. As a result the same person could be recorded differently on birth, baptismal, marriage and death certificates as well as the other numerous records recording life’s events.
    The Anglo-Saxon tribes produced many English surnames including the surname V. The Saxons were invited into England by the ancient Britons of the 4th Century. Their home was in the Rhine valley, but some came from as far northeast as Denmark. They were led by two brothers, Commanders Hengist and Horsa. At first the Saxons settled in the county of Kent, on the south east coast of England. Gradually, they spread North and westward, and during the next four hundred years forced the ancient Britons back into Wales and Cornwall in the west, and Cumberland in the North. The Angles, another Teutonic tribe, occupied the eastern coast in Suffolk and Norfolk. Once the independent kingdoms of the angles and Saxons were unified the land experienced relative peace.
    However, society was disrupted in 1066 when the Normans invaded from France. Norman victory at the battle of Hastings resulted in the end of Anglo-Saxon rule. In 1070, Duke William, the first Norman King of England, took an army of 40,000 north and ravaged the northern counties. Many rebellious Norman nobles and Saxons fled over the border into Scotland. Meanwhile, the Saxons who remained in the south were not treated well under hostile Norman rule. They also moved northward to the midlands, Lancashire and Yorkshire away from Norman oppression.
Despite this upheaval the notable English family CLARKE thrived, emerging in the county of Kent where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Kingsdown House with manor and estates in that shire. They later branched to Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, London, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire. This prolific family name enjoyed many branches, but seem to be quite distinct from Clark with out an ‘e’ and were largely confined to southern England. There were many notables of the name who made great contributions to history. Distinguished members of the family included Marcus Clarke, Australian Novelist, 1846-1881.
    The CLARKE family survived the famines, plagues and trials of everyday life which made the Middle Ages a turbulent time. Later, during the 16th and 17th centuries England was ravaged by political and social upheaval. Conflict between different religious sects, and the parliament and king meant that various groups were struggling for supremacy at the expense of society in general. Many families were “encouraged” to migrate to Ireland, or to the colonies. And, while some were rewarded with grants of lands, others were banished without compensation.
    Many families made their way to Ireland, either as Protestant settlers, as soldiers following Cromwell, or as exiles from their home territory. Land was confiscated from the Catholic Irish and distributed to the newcomers. In Ireland this distinguished family settled in counties Antrim, Derry and Down.
    In these troubled times the New World beckoned as a place to start a new life. However, the difficulties which families left behind were replaced with new problems. Settling in regions where the native people were a mystery, where the environment was unknown, and where the land was untamed, meant that life in the colonies was harsh to say the least.
Members of the CLARKE family would not make the decision to cross the ocean lightly, for while the trials at the end of the trip were often unknown, the realities of the voyage itself resulted in the death of many ship’s passengers. Overcrowding, disease and inadequate food contributed to the harshness of the journey.
    Migrants bearing the CLARKE surname or a spelling variation of that name include Anne Clarke who settled in Virginia in 1648; Edward with his wife and child with settled in Virginia in 1623; George Clarke, who settled in Barbados in 1680 with his wife and servants; as well as William Clarke settled in Salem Mass in 1630.
    Among the destinations selected by immigrants were the colonies which are now Canada. It was the American War of Independence which brought the first large group of English speaking settlers to Canada. Known as United Empire Loyalists, these emigrants from the south settled in Nova Scotia and in southern Ontario regions of Kingston, Belleville and Niagara.
Many of the earliest settlers to Australia were convicts, transported from Britain to live and work in the penal colonies, others were offered incentives and financial assistance.
    At least 4 of the name CLARKE arrived as convicts in the late 1700’s First fleet convicts include: John, from Exeter. Second Fleet convicts include: Thomas, from Strafford and Mary from Radnor. Third Fleet convicts include: James from Shropshire.
    Contemporary bearers of the CLARKE surname of note include Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke (1846-1881) Australian, author; Marcus Clarke (1846-1881) Australian, Writer; Ronald William Clarke (1937-) Australian, athlete; Sir Ashley Clarke; Jonathan Clarke, High Court Judge; Edward Clarke, High Court Judge; General Desmond Clarke; Sir Frederick Clarke; Arthur Charles Clarke, English author of science fiction and non-fiction on such topics as space flight and underwater research.
The motto for the Coat of Arms “Carpe Diem”, translates as; ’Seize the present opportunity.’