O'Clery Family Crest & Name History

Many O'Clery families will find their roots under Clarke, the form most records use. The name is generally explained as “Descendant of the cleric”.

How the spelling arose

Before spelling was fixed, Clarke was also written O'Clery. Before spelling was standardised, one family could appear under several forms. Other spellings include Clark, Cleary and Ó Cléirigh.

Heraldry and the O'Clery name

A coat of arms belongs to a particular family line rather than to everyone named O'Clery, so the heraldry linked to Clarke is a starting point, not an automatic right.

Research your O'Clery family history with a full surname report and painted coat of arms.