This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the clench,' a local term of which I have not discovered the origin.

John de la Clenche, Wiltshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Seman Clenche, Suffolk ibid.

Richard Clenche, Suffolk, ibid.

1582. William Stickney and Dorothy Clenche: Marriage Lic. (London).

1584. John Clenche, Norfolk: History of Norfolk.

— Ambrose Clench, Norfolk: ibid.

1593. Edward Hill and Margaret Clincne: Marriage Lic. I London).

Though not Gaelic in origin-Clinch derives from the Old-English word clenc meaning a lump or low hill, and was formerly spelt Clench-families of the name have been located in Ireland since 1305 when John Clenche appears in a law case in Dublin. Dalton in his King James's Army List states that about this time they were established in Ormond; but they did not remain there, for in the whole series of Ormond Deeds from 1172to 1603the name does not appear even once. In the Leinster counties nearer to Dublin, however, they are the subject of frequent notice in all kinds of records from the thirteenth century onwards-in social standing they range from leading gentry, in Counties Dublin and Meath, to small tenant; in religious affairs from Catholic martyrs to subservient Reformation clergy; but in the sphere of war and politics, at any rate since 1600, any who are at all noteworthy have been on the patriotic side: four of the name, for example, were outlawed as Jacobites; one was “titular” Dean of St. Patrick's in 1743 in defiance of the Penal Laws; and at least one was a member of the United Irishmen half a century later.

Perhaps the most distinguished individual of the name was James Bernard Clinch (1770-1834), of Maynooth College, Catholic pamphleteer as well as a classical and Gaelic scholar.

(Teutonic) a pers. or nick-name evid. conn. with Middle English clenchen, klenken, ‘to strike smartly,’ variant of klinken, ‘to clink.’

A name of English origin very frequent in Leinster records since the early fourteenth century. It is called Clinse in Irish. SIF 35

A township in Northumberland.

The family of Clinch, now best represented in and around Sittingbourne, resided in Hernehill in this county during the 17th century (H.), where the name still remains.