Cleary (surname)

Cleary is an Irish surname, which derives from Gaelic Ó Cléirigh/Mac Cleirigh, meaning 'descendant or son of cleric'. Notable people with the surname include:

• Audrey Cleary (1930–2019), American politician and nurse
• Bernard Cleary (1937–2020), Canadian politician
• Beverly Cleary (1916–2021), American author
• Bill Cleary (born 1934), American hockey player
• Brendan Cleary (born 1958), Irish poet
• Brian P. Cleary (born 1959), American humorist, poet and author
• Daniel Cleary (born 1978), Canadian hockey player
• Gabriel Cleary (born 1945), Irish engineer
• Ivan Cleary (born 1971), Australian rugby league footballer and coach
• Joe Cleary (1918–2004), Irish baseball player
• John Cleary (disambiguation), many people
• Jon Cleary (1917–2010), Australian author
• Jon Cleary (musician) (born 1962), American musician
• Mark Cleary (professor) (born 1954), Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford
• Michael Cleary (disambiguation), various including
  • Michael Cleary (rugby) (born 1940), Australian politician and dual-code rugby footballer
  • Michael J. Cleary (1925–2020), Irish bishop
  • Michael Cleary (hurler) (born 1966), former Irish hurler for Nenagh Éire Óg and Tipperary
  • Father Michael Cleary (1934–1993), Irish Roman Catholic priest
• M. H. Cleary (1853–1933), American politician, lawyer, and physician
• Nathan Cleary (born 1997), Australian rugby league footballer
• Nikki Cleary (born 1988), American singer
• Paul Cleary (born 1976), Australian middle-distance runner
• Phil Cleary (born 1952), Australian commentator
• Patrick Roger Cleary (1858–1948), founder of Cleary University
• Russell G. Cleary (1933–1997), American businessman and lawyer
• Sean Cleary (footballer) (born 1983), Irish football player
• Sean Cleary (rugby league), Irish rugby league footballer
• Siobhán Cleary (born 1970), Irish Composer
• Thomas Cleary (1949–2021), author and translator
• Timothy Cleary, (1900–1962), New Zealand lawyer and judge
• William J. Cleary (1870–1952), American politician