Show ContentsCloace History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Cloace come from when the family resided as inhabitants by the enclosed place. Another origin may be derived from the Old English word close, that referred to worker in the farm-yard.

Early Origins of the Cloace family

The surname Cloace was first found in Yorkshire where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 make the first mention of the family. There we found Johannes del Clos and Willelmus del Clos both listed as holding lands at that time. 1

However one notes source states: "some families of this name are of Yorkshire origin and some are Gaelic-Ó Cluasaigh; both are found in Antrim and adjacent counties." 2

Early History of the Cloace family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cloace research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1443, 1447, 1448, 1450, 1452, 1453, 1579, 1581, 1585, 1640, 1659, 1660, 1854, 1857 and 1878 are included under the topic Early Cloace History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cloace Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Cloace has been recorded under many different variations, including Close, Cloase, Cloise, Clowse, Clovse, Cloace, Cloce, Cloose and many more.

Early Notables of the Cloace family

Notables of the family at this time include Nicholas Close (died 1452), English priest, Bishop of Carlisle (1450 to 1452) and Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield (1452 to 1453). He was "one of the six original fellows of King's College, Cambridge, appointed by the founder, Henry VI, in 1443. Of his previous life nothing has as yet been discovered. The accounts of King's College show that he was frequently employed on important business, and in 1447 he became overseer of the building works ('magister operum')...
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cloace Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Cloace family to Ireland

Some of the Cloace family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 180 words (13 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cloace family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Cloace or a variant listed above: Phettiplace Close settled in Virginia in 1608; twelve years before the "Mayflower"; Daniel Close settled in Jamaica in 1670; John Close settled in Virginia in 1670.



The Cloace Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortis et fidelis
Motto Translation: Brave and faithful.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.


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