clarke

IPA/klˈɑːk/
KK[klˈɑrk]IPA/klˈɑːrk/

clarke — noun

1. a common family name (surname) of English origin, used widely in English-speakin

1.nounB1
Definition

a common family name (surname) of English origin, used widely in English-speaking countries; originally referred to someone who worked as a clerk or scholar.

Example

Arthur C. Clarke was a British science fiction writer best known for 2001: A Space Odyssey.

surname + full name in author context

Our neighbors, the Clarke family, moved to Scotland last summer.

the Clarke family — common plural surname pattern

Common collocations
  • the Clarke family
  • Dr. Clarke
  • Ms. Clarke
  • Arthur C. Clarke
  • Clarke + surname
Synonyms
  • Clark

    the same surname without the final 'e'; more common in the US

  • Clerk

    archaic occupational name from the same root, now a different surname

Usage Note

Clarke is both a surname (family name) and, less commonly, a given name. As a surname it ranks among the 100 most common in the United Kingdom and the United States. The variant spelling Clark (without the final 'e') is also very common.

Common Mistakes

Clark is spelled with an e at the end when it's a surname.
Clarke is spelled C-l-a-r-k-e
the final 'e' distinguishes it from the more common spelling Clark.' — both Clark and Clarke exist as distinct surnames; one is not a misspelling of the other.