Surname Clev - Meaning and Origin
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Clev: What does the surname Clev mean?
The surname Clev is believed to have originated in the Anglo-Saxon culture of Medieval England. It is derived from the personal name "Cleva", itself derived from the Old English word "cleofan" which means "to make bright or clear". This reflects an ancestor who possessed a clear or bright quality, either personally or professionally.
Clev is believed to be a locational name, from a village which has now either vanished or changed its name. This connection is supported by the fact that the Clev surname is most commonly found in Yorkshire, where many of these lost villages can still be found today. It is believed that the surname Clev refers to these areas.
The Clev surname has also been linked to Old Norse words, possibly relating to a settlement near cliffs or rocky areas. In its early years, the name was mainly found in northern England, though some families have since spread throughout the United Kingdom.
Families with the Clev surname are thought to be related to those with the name Cleave, and the two have seen considerable intermarriage over the years. Although the records of some families stretch back many centuries, the Clev surname is still comparatively rare, and does not seem to have grown as rapidly as some other English surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisClev: Where does the name Clev come from?
The last name Clev is most commonly found in the United States. According to the 2019 US Census, Clev is the 10,559th most common name in the United States with 1,441 people bearing the last name. However, it is significantly less common than other last names in the ranking, such as Smith (the most common name in the US) which had a count of 2,376,206 individuals.
Clev is also found in Canada, but in a much smaller size. According to the 2016 census, only 12 people in the entire country bore the last name.
The origin of the name Clev is uncertain due to the surname being so rare. It is possible that the name originates from English, Scottish or Dutch ancestry, likely from the Middle English personal name Cleve, which was derived from Old French clef, meaning “key”.
Clev is also a very localized name. Those who bear the surname typically take the form of a single family who have maintained the same genealogy. It is not uncommon for entire subdivisions, cities, and even states to share the same limited Clev family tree.
Overall, the last name Clev is a rare name today, mostly found in the United States with some additional individuals scattered in Canada. Its origin and family tree is mainly localized, with large concentrations of the surname found in a single area or single family.
Variations of the surname Clev
The surname Clev is derived from the Latin word ‘clevus’, meaning ‘ridge’ or ‘ridge top’. This surname is quite uncommon as a first name but it has its variants.
The various spellings of Clev include Cliev, Kleev, Klev, Kleyv, and Cleve. Each spelling is different but all are descended from the same Latin term.
The surnames associated with Clev are Clevis, Clevely, Clevenger, and Cleves. Clevis is a variation of the Italian spelling of Clev, while variants such as Clevely and Clevenger are occupational surnames. Cleves originates from a place on the Dutch/Belgian border and is another spelling of the same root word.
Other surnames deriving from Clev include Cleven, Cliphant, Cleave, Cliff, and Clift. Cleven, which is derived from Clevenger, is a variant of Clev. Cliphant is another variation of the same spelling, while Cleve is a Gaelic variant of Clev. Cleft, Cliff, and Clift all originate from the Anglo-Saxon for ‘cliff’.
Clev is a rare surname, but it has many variants and associated surnames. All these spellings and surnames are descended from the same Latin term.
Famous people with the name Clev
- Michael Clev: Actor and Recording Artist
- Terrell Clev: Professional Boxer
- Sosa Clev: Professional Football Player
- David Clev: Pro-Basketball Player
- Jon Clev: Film Director
- Matth Clev: Professional Tennis Player
- Ben Clev: Professional Golfer
- Cassie Clev: Professional Figure Skater
- Mac Clev: Performance Artist
- Katie Clev: Professional Snowboarder
- Terri Clev: Professional Surfer
- Jenn Clev: Radio Personality
- James Clev: Professional Race Car Driver
- Brad Clev: Professional Musician
- Paul Clev: Businessman and Philanthropist