Where Does the O'Cleary Surname Come From?

Heraldry is personal: arms associated with the Cleary surname were borne by specific families, and sharing the name does not mean sharing the blazon.

What O'Cleary means

The spelling O'Cleary grew out of Cleary, an Irish surname with a long paper trail. Name scholars give the meaning as “Descendant of the clerk”.

How the spelling arose

The O' in front of the name is a particle that was often added to Cleary in records. Other spellings include Clery and Clarke.

Get the complete O'Cleary report, with a museum-style coat of arms.