The Cleland surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,116 people carried this name — #8,040 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 71,400 people counted. That is up 1% from 4,063 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Cleland surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley explains it as ‘the son of Cleland’.

His entry covers Cleland and Clelland.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 185 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 14 births for the Cleland name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 600 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 5 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Down and Antrim.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 13
Leinster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Scotland’s registers today

Cleland was recorded 27 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 912th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 42. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

21 families named Cleland, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 114 people lived in those households, 5.4 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 6 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 5
Maryland 5
New York 4
South Carolina 3
Massachusetts 2
Virginia 1
North Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 234 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Cleland in American newspapers,
1900.

Newspaper page from The Wheatland World carrying the name Cleland
The Wheatland World 1900-09-07
Newspaper page from The Wheatland World carrying the name Cleland
The Wheatland World 1900-08-17
Newspaper page from Platte Valley Lyre carrying the name Cleland
Platte Valley Lyre 1900-09-13

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 37,974 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Cleland in Australian newspapers,
1820s–1990s.

23,693 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Cleland. The most, 5,000, date from the 1910s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in South Australia, at 4.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 12,710
New South Wales 2,742
Western Australia 2,636
Victoria 2,628
Queensland 1,617
Tasmania 970
Northern Territory 140
ACT (Canberra) 136

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Cleland.

Who carried it

People named Cleland,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Cleland
    John Cleland 1709–1789 · writer
  • James Cleland
    James Cleland 1770–1840 · architect
  • Clive Cleland d. 2025 · accountant
  • Jane Cleland d. 1870
  • James Cleland 1600–1627 · writer
  • Elizabeth Cleland 1735–1772

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Cleland,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States525 records

525 records of the Cleland name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 161
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 98
  • Other U.S. records 266
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Nevin F. Cleland

    Born 1911 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1943 at Harrisburg; aircraft mechanic. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 2000, buried at Mount Zion Cemetery, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Thomas Leonard Cleland

    Born 1941; from Ypsilanti, Michigan. U.S. Army, antenna installer specialist; killed in action 1967 in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alexander Cleland

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Furnessia from Glasgow, aged 20; last maker. From Ayrshire, Scotland; bound for Pennsylvania.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 525 records for Cleland in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia446 records

446 records of the Cleland name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 199
  • Tasmanian Names Index 103
  • Other Australian records 144
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record William Cleland

    Died 1854 in New Norfolk, Tasmania, aged 49. Will registered in Tasmania in 1854.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Michael Cleland

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Heroine, arriving 1833; certificate of freedom 1839.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Nora Cleland

    Arrived in Victoria in 1857 aboard the Zillah, as an infant; British subject.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 446 records for Cleland in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada58 records

58 records of the Cleland name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 30
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 10
  • Other Canadian records 18
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Mary Ella Cleland

    Buried in 1926 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Yvette Marie Cleland

    Died 1963 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record William Alfred Cleland

    Died in service in 1918.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 58 records for Cleland in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

New Zealand8 records

8 records of the Cleland name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 7
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Robert Lyon Cleland

    Died 1957, aged 78; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joseph Albert Cleland

    Died 1952, aged 76; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alison Ingils Cleland

    Died 1986, aged 83; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Cleland in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom8 records

8 records of the Cleland name in the United Kingdom
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 4
  • Stirling Council burial records 3
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Nicholas John Cleland

    Born 1886 at Caimflat; hairdresser. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Christina Cleland

    Buried in 1915 at Callander Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 42.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record James Cleland

    Born 1880 at Crossford; photographer. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Cleland in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France1 record

1 record of the Cleland name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Diana Marie Cleland

    Born 1923 in Paris; died 1991 in Lagny-sur-Marne (Seine-et-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the Cleland name in the Netherlands Dutch church registers before 1811
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Willem Cleland

    Baptised in 1718 in Bergen op Zoom.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Cleland.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Cleland is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Cleland volume
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