what is a clark

A "Clark" is an English language surname, ultimately derived from the Latin "clericus," meaning "scribe," "secretary," or a scholar within a religious order, referring to someone who was educated. It is also an occasional given name. The name has historical links to England, Scotland, and Ireland, and first records of the name are found in 12th-century England. Clark is the twenty-seventh most common surname in the United Kingdom, including placing fourteenth in Scotland. It is also a masculine name and a variant of the surname Clarke, for someone who was either a scribe or priest/cleric