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
 * Eilish Cleary (1963–2024), Irish-Canadian physician and health advocate
 * 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