History of your Surname
Get access to Clinch family records.Start a free trial

Clinch Family History

Clinch Name Meaning

Irish (Dublin Wexford): from Mac Loingsigh see McGlinchey and Lynch . English: habitational name from one or more of the various places with names deriving from Old English clenc ‘lump mass; hill; elevated land in a fen’ such as Clinch Green in Northiam (Sussex) Clench in Milton Lilborne and Clinghill in Bromham (both Wiltshire). Also perhaps a topographic name for someone who lived by such a feature. English: possibly also a metonymic occupational name for a maker or fixer of bolts and rivets from Middle English clinch clench ‘door nail secured by riveting or clinching’ from clench(en) ‘to fix firmly’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Lynch, Winch, Finch, Clint, Clines, Leach, Pinch, Blanch, Hinch, Lich

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Clinch family from?

You can see how Clinch families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Clinch family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Clinch families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 9 Clinch families living in New York. This was about 53% of all the recorded Clinch's in USA. New York had the highest population of Clinch families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Clinch surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Clinch ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Clinch. 17% of Clinch men worked as a Laborer and 13% of Clinch women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Clinch were Clerk and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Clinch | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    17%
  • Salesman
    16%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • Clerk
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    13%
  • Teacher
    13%
  • Cook
    10%
  • Clerk
    10%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Clinch family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 32,000 census records available for the last name Clinch. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Clinch census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Clinch

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Clinch. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Clinch immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Clinch. For the veterans among your Clinch ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Clinch military records

You've only scratched the surface of Clinch family history

Discover More

What is the average Clinch lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Clinch life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Clinch in 1951 was 23, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Clinch

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Clinch family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Clinch last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial