Clerk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec, in 1663 there were only 500, 2,000 migrants arrived during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. Youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. Migration from France to New France or Quebec as it was now more popularly called, continued from France until it fell in 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many distinguished contributions have been made by members of this family name Clerk. It has been prominent in the arts, religion, politics and culture in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Clerk were

Clerk Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Mr. John Clerk, (Clark) aged 19, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 2
• Robert Clerk, who arrived in Maryland in 1637 3
• Eleanor Clerk, who arrived in Maryland in 1641 3
• John Clerk, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 3
• Tho Clerk, who landed in Virginia in 1654 3
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Clerk Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Robert Clerk, who landed in Virginia in 1701 3
• Eliza Clerk, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 3
• Benja Clerk, who landed in Virginia in 1701 3
• Jane Clerk, who landed in Virginia in 1703 3
• Edward Clerk, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 3
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Clerk Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Margaret Clerk, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 3
• Ann Clerk, aged 5, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 3

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Clerk Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• John Clerk, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Mr. James Clerk U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 4

Clerk Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. George Clerk, English convict who was convicted in Newington, London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the ""Blenheim"" on 24th July 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island, Australia 5

Clerk Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. Alexander Clerk, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Dinapore" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 5th August 1857 6
• Mr. David Clerk, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd September 1860 7

• J. A. Clerk, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1916 8
• John Clerk (1757-1832), Lord Eldin, Scotch judge, the eldest son of John Clerk of Eldin 9
• John Clerk of Eldin (1728-1812), Scottish author of an essay on naval tactics, seventh son of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, educated at the grammar school of Dalkeith 9
• Sir George Clerk (1787-1867), Scottish statesman, elder son of James Clerk, by his wife, Janet, daughter of George Irving of Newton, Lanarkshire, and grandson of Sir George Clerk Maxwell 9
• Sir Dugald Clerk (1854-1932), Scottish engineer
• James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879), Scottish physicist