Clark is an English occupational surname meaning "clerk" or "scribe", from the Latin clericus, the cleric who could read and write in medieval times. Explorer William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition, actor Clark Gable and Superman's alter ego Clark Kent have made it a thoroughly American name. Clark has been in the US top 1000 throughout this century and rose from number 761 in 2000 to number 377 in 2025.