Close Surname

20,140th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 27,150 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Northern Ireland

Close Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the close'—Old French clos, an enclosed space (whence diminutive closet)—from residence therein. Not to be confounded with Clowes, which has a different origin. Johannes del Clos,' 379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Read More About This Surname

Close Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States13,0051:27,8713,482
England4,9961:11,1531,647
Australia3,9601:6,817998
Belgium1,2731:9,0311,281
Canada1,2631:29,1733,828
Northern Ireland6151:3,000602
Scotland4561:11,7411,579
New Zealand3481:13,0122,266
France2581:257,45239,723
Wales2231:13,8771,523
South Africa1671:324,41730,492
Netherlands1191:141,90921,612
Germany641:1,257,89880,532
Iran571:1,347,06255,719
Ireland551:85,6174,914
Russia491:2,941,287160,625
Brazil321:6,689,823158,565
Thailand221:3,210,834301,565
Uruguay161:214,48516,699
Isle of Man151:5,7211,243
India121:63,922,115578,870
Switzerland101:821,29253,588
Egypt91:10,215,08448,153
Guatemala91:1,786,9636,100
China91:151,924,6187,954
Kazakhstan71:2,526,071102,287
Panama61:652,04310,051
Mexico61:20,687,70153,861
Indonesia41:33,062,298643,618
Tunisia41:152,65617,743
Sweden41:2,461,689157,534
Spain41:11,688,009116,470
Saudi Arabia41:7,713,95437,548
Argentina41:10,685,854219,200
Belarus31:3,167,020121,664
Vietnam31:30,882,0184,101
South Korea31:17,080,0852,793
Nigeria31:59,047,586507,603
Japan31:42,614,76459,022
Hong Kong31:2,445,1619,595
Malaysia21:14,747,112316,340
Bahamas21:195,8761,708
Nicaragua21:3,010,5457,383
Cambodia21:7,743,57311,959
Kyrgyzstan21:2,986,32784,533
Philippines21:50,619,112341,003
United Arab Emirates21:4,581,13693,443
Grenada11:108,5351,793
Iceland11:380,09011,096
Czechia11:10,633,469206,023
Colombia11:47,774,07244,230
Iraq11:35,021,65431,813
Turkey11:77,821,422191,047
Uganda11:39,039,279258,887
American Samoa11:55,7583,072
United States Virgin Islands11:110,3756,934
Azerbaijan11:9,649,12247,873
Algeria11:38,631,551130,422
Bulgaria11:6,978,90586,260
Albania11:2,914,05529,474
Luxembourg11:580,54215,155
Finland11:5,496,70284,025
Malta11:430,2723,380
Mauritius11:1,293,41716,552
Bangladesh11:159,356,77326,077
Nepal11:28,480,95622,413
Ghana11:27,020,69223,742
Georgia11:3,745,54547,852
Niger11:19,192,017110,060
Oman11:3,687,97114,390
Pakistan11:178,643,885213,220
Israel11:8,557,634182,558
Papua New Guinea11:8,153,717181,784
Peru11:31,784,12364,452
Poland11:38,008,749231,653
Portugal11:10,418,24125,048
Greece11:11,079,790145,225
Dominican Republic11:10,432,93236,508
Denmark11:5,644,71593,155
Italy11:61,156,688199,583
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland7011:6,3191,008
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England2,3591:10,3331,566
Scotland1721:21,7632,099
Wales841:18,6721,092
Isle of Man11:54,2692,077
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States3,3001:15,2181,952

The alternate forms: Closé (1) are calculated separately.

Close (244) may also be a first name.

Close Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the close'—Old French clos, an enclosed space (whence diminutive closet)—from residence therein. Not to be confounded with Clowes, which has a different origin. Johannes del Clos,' 379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Willelmus del Clos, 1379: ibid.

1545. Baptised — John Close: St. Dionis Backchurch.

The following entry is curious:

1697. Baptised — Picken Close, a foundling att Picken s Coffee house dore: St. James, Clerkenwell.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

This is a fairly numerous name in Cos. Antrim, Down and Tyrone, but Woulfe is misleading in implying that it is of Gaelic—Irish origin: he equates it with Ó Cluasaigh and does not mention that it is also a well known English name. In fact the principal families of Close in the counties mentioned above are known to have descended from settlers from Yorkshire, the earliest being Richard Close an officer in the English army in 1640. He first acquired property in Co. Monaghan whence the family moved to Co. Antrim, and William Close appears in the “census” of 1659-60 as one of the tituladoes at Lisnagarvy Co. Antrim. The Hearth Money Rolls of approximately the same date record seven families called O'Cloase, O'Closs and O'Closse in that county. Two centuries later one of them was a very extensive landowner in Co. Armagh, for which county he was High Sheriff in 1854 and M.P. at various times between 1857 and 1878.

Supplement to Irish Families (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(Anglo-French-Latin) Dweller at an Enclosure or Field [French clos; French clore, Latin claudere, to shut, close]

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

Some families of this name are of Yorkshire origin and some are Gaelic-Ó Cluasaigh; both are found in Antrim and adjacent counties. SIF 36

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

“Enclosure” in Old French (Clos). Also “Silent”.

South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

(English) Dweller at an enclosure or fenced yard.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

Any piece of ground that is enclosed with hedge, wall, or water.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

The French pronunciation of Claus. See Class.

The Norman People (1874)

Fromfrom the Flemish, Claus, contraction of Niklaus, Protestant refugee name; from the Dutch, Kloos; from the Flemish, Close; a personal name.$

British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1903) by Henry Barber

Close: an enclosure.

Family Names And Their Story (1913) by Sabine Baring-Gould

Close Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Close Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname Close is more commonly found in The United States than any other country/territory. It can occur as a variant: Closé. For other potential spellings of this name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Close? popularity and diffusion

This surname is the 20,140th most widespread surname world-wide, borne by approximately 1 in 268,418 people. The surname Close occurs mostly in The Americas, where 49 percent of Close reside; 48 percent reside in North America and 48 percent reside in Anglo-North America. It is also the 571,890th most frequently held first name at a global level. It is borne by 244 people.

Close is most frequently occurring in The United States, where it is held by 13,005 people, or 1 in 27,871. In The United States Close is most frequent in: California, where 9 percent reside, New York, where 7 percent reside and Pennsylvania, where 6 percent reside. Besides The United States this last name exists in 79 countries. It is also found in England, where 18 percent reside and Australia, where 15 percent reside.

Close Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The occurrence of Close has changed over time. In The United States the share of the population with the surname rose 394 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it rose 212 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Scotland it rose 265 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Wales it rose 265 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Ireland it contracted 92 percent between 1901 and 2014.

Close Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those bearing the Close last name is predominantly Catholic (40%) in Ireland and Orthodox (75%) in Russia.

In The United States those bearing the Close last name are 17.78% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than The US average, with 64.55% being registered with the party.

The amount Close earn in different countries varies somewhat. In South Africa they earn 9.92% more than the national average, earning R 261,204 per year; in United States they earn 4.78% more than the national average, earning $45,213 USD per year and in Canada they earn 4.26% more than the national average, earning $51,800 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Closé931/
Clouse9110,941/
Closse91441/
Closet91219/
Closed91192/
Closey9194/
Cloose9180/
Closer9148/
Clohse9140/
Cleose9121/
Closes918/
Cloise913/
Closie912/
Closeu911/
Cloyse910/
Cloese910/
Closee910/
Clos893,380/
Clouser833,802/
Closset832,522/
Closser83872/
Closier83649/
Clossey83301/
Clousse8335/
Schlose8313/
Clohset8311/
Clooser832/
Clohsey831/
Clousea831/
Cloiser831/
Clouses831/
Cloisse831/
Clhoshe831/
Cleoses831/
Clossie830/
Clousey830/
Chlosey830/
Cloesey830/
Clousie830/
Closett830/
Klose8033,145/
Closs804,545/
Closa802,977/
Clase802,809/
Cloos801,948/
Clous80596/
Cluse80559/
Clost80163/
Cloys8072/
Closi8064/
Closz8061/
Clots8044/
Cloës8021/
Clohs8015/
Cloce8014/
Cloze808/
Closh807/
Slose803/
Closy802/
Clois801/
Clios801/
Cloge801/
Jlose801/
Xlose801/
Cloxe800/
Closp800/
Clousier77177/
Schloser7742/
Clousher7735/
Closshey7712/
Clehouse7710/
Šchloser7710/
Chlosser772/
Schlosse772/
Clossett771/
Clossset771/
Clossehy770/
Clossiey770/
Cloisshe770/
Clause733,466/
Claase731,398/
Classe731,128/
Cloots731,055/
Slosse73447/
Klouse73347/
Cloche73292/
Clases73192/
Klosse73182/
Clouts73154/
Kloese73151/
Claser73145/
Cluyse73145/
Šloser7397/
Clossa7381/
Cleosa7365/
Clasey7362/
Kloose7358/
Cellos7351/
Clotts7337/
Clossi7332/
Clouss7327/
Sloser7322/
Cleous7320/
Clodge7316/
Clouds7313/
Cluset7312/
Clasie738/
Clousa738/
Cillos737/
Clocet736/
Claset735/
Clozer735/
Sloise735/
Cluses734/
Cloush734/
Şloser734/
Slouse733/
Cloisa733/
Cloyce732/
Clasea732/
Clousd732/
Cluser732/
Closay732/
Clossy732/
Cliots732/
Clozet732/
Cluise732/
Clusse732/
Cloice731/
Klosep731/
Kloshe731/
Cleuse731/
Cliase731/
Clluse731/
Cloger731/
Clooss731/
Cloust731/
Clozie731/
Clocer731/
Kloise731/
Céllos731/
Clhase731/
Clouge731/
Clouje731/
Cloßet731/
Cloţea731/
Cluots731/
Cloohs731/
Closhi731/
Cloist730/
Clogie730/
Cloyds730/
Clouce730/
Clashe730/
Clusey730/
Sloose730/
Clouze730/
Clousi730/
Cloige730/
Cloxsy730/
Closch730/
Clouxe730/
Closcy730/
Schlooser719/
Clotscher717/
Schloszer716/
Schlloser714/
Schlosher711/
Schlosset711/
Schlossee710/
Schloscer710/
Schlossie710/
Klos6713,856/
Clausse672,960/
Clauser672,467/
Clas67860/
Klousse67617/
Kloushe67580/
Slosser67496/
Clouzet67422/
Clochet67414/
Clocher67321/
Classey67203/
Szloser67182/
Closuit67125/
Clochey67109/
Clocier6794/
Clozier6789/
Cuellos6789/
Clochez6787/
Cloß6783/
Classer6768/
Cloggie6759/
Claasse6758/
Clauset6757/
Classie6752/
Schllosser6743/
Cloz6740/
Cloches6736/
Chillos6735/
Cloodts6729/
Chellos6724/
Shloser6724/
Clausey6723/
Classes6722/
Schlase6720/
Szlosze6720/
Klosser6719/
Cellase6716/
Slosier6715/
Šlosser6711/
Clox679/
Coellos678/
Klosset678/
Klousie675/
Clauses675/
Clós675/
Cleoish675/
Clouche675/
Classea674/
Clausøe674/
Cloussa674/
Klosher673/
Slosher673/
Clousit673/
Schlosszer673/
Classee672/
Sellose672/
Clahses672/
Clusier672/
Klosges672/
Schlosseer672/
Schloosser671/
Kloeseh671/
Klosets671/
Klotser671/
Cuillos671/
Claseth671/
Cloujey671/
Dsloise671/
Schlodsser671/
Clasher671/
Clás671/
Clossys671/
Cleuser671/
Klosses671/
Klosseu671/
Schloße671/
Cloţ671/
Clloots671/
Clotche671/
Clasier671/
Schlossser671/
Cloudsy670/
Clashey670/
Clushey670/
Slossie670/
Slotser670/
Clothsy670/
Schlossher670/
Classet670/
Clodgie670/
Clehous670/
Clujser670/
Clauseu670/
Slouser670/
Sloosie670/
Clusser670/
Klosger670/
Clusech670/
Clasche670/
Clodges670/
Sloszer670/
Clutsie670/
Schlosi670/

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Close Reference & Research

Close One-name Study - A profile of the Close surname with contact details for a researcher who collects any information pertaining to it.

Close FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Close
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis