Surname Clewer - Meaning and Origin

Clewer: What does the surname Clewer mean?

The last name Clewer is derived from the Old English word "cleow," which means "clay" or "cliff," likely referring to the geographical conditions in which the family it originated from lived. For example, the Clewer family may have lived near a clay pit or a steep cliff at some point in their history.

Variations of the name include Clewers, Clewer, Clewor, Clewir, Clewor, Cloer, and Cluer. The associated coat of arms for the Clewer family is a silver shield with three diagonal roads in its central field, each having a black bend in the centre.

The earliest recorded use of the Clewer name dates back to 1320 in Cambridgeshire, England. The Clewer family motto is "Duplex Quies," which translates as "Peace in Abundance." The family has a long history of political involvement; Notable Clewer family members include William Clewer, a Member of Parliament for Wallingford from 1586 to 1587 and Edward Richard Clewer, Member of Parliament for Reading in 1895.

Today, the Clewer family is widespread across England, but has numerous descendants throughout Europe and the United States, Canada, and Australia. The name has become popular among those interested in family history and heraldry. With its rich and varied history, the Clewer name is a source of pride for their many descendants spread around the world.

Clewer: Where does the name Clewer come from?

The last name Clewer is not common today; it last appears in the United States census in 1900, when there were fewer than 400 recorded people with the surname. Clewers first appear in record in England in the 16th century. Since then, the name has been primarily associated with England and the United Kingdom. This is likely because of the Clewer family, barons of which were commonly cited between the 16th and 17th centuries in London.

Today, there are only a few people with the surname Clewer in countries outside of the UK. Examples include a small concentration in Germany and a handful of people in Australia and South Africa. Most of the people living outside of the UK with the surname are likely descendants of the original Clewers from England.

The last name Clewers is still relatively popular in the UK. It can be found throughout the UK, but especially in the south and more rural areas. Some notable people with the name Clewer include British sports stars, including a professional kickboxer, a former British Olympic swimmer, and a professional surfer.

Variations of the surname Clewer

The surname Clewer has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Clawer, Clower, Clouer, Clewor, Cleworth, Klawer, Klowar, Klewer, Klewar, Klaer, Klar, Kliwer, Kliwar, Kliar, Klear, and Klear.

Clewer is an English-origin name which is derived from the Old English elements cliw, meaning "cliff" or "bank", and wer, meaning "enclosed settlement". In other words, it is likely derived from a place name which described an area where there were banks, or possibly steep hills, encircling a settlement. Before spelling became standardised, the surname was frequently recorded in various forms, such as Clawer, Clower, and Clouer.

Other forms of Clewer include the German-origin Clewor and Cleworth. While similar in pronunciation and spelling, these variants are not derived from the same root. Instead, they are derived from the raven, a bird which was seen as a symbol of protection in Germanic folklore.

Klawer, Klowar, Klewer, Klewar, Klaer, Klar, Kliwer, Kliwar, Kliar, Klear, and Klear are alternative spellings of Clewer. These forms are found predominantly in German-speaking regions, signifying an continued presence of the surname in these areas.

Famous people with the name Clewer

• Charles Clewer: English footballer who started his career playing as a forward before transitioning to defender
• Adam Clewer: Australian professional soccer player who currently plays for Sydney Olympic
• Tim Clewer: legendary British TV actor best known for his work on the soap opera Brookside
• Stephen Clewer: English actor from Middlesex who starred in the 1971 film version of P.D. James' Death of an Expert Witness
• Henry Clewer: British heavyweight boxer in the late 19th century who had the distinction of being the first man to ever lose to Gentleman Jim Corbett for the world heavyweight title
• Amy Clewer: British actress and singer, who had a recurring role on the popular medical-drama Holby City
• William Clewer: English professor at the University of Leicester, specializing in 17th and 18th-century European literature
• Eric Clewer: comic actor from South Wales, best known for his role in the popular British comedy series The Office
• Jonathan Clewer: Canadian ice hockey player, who made a brief appearance in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1997/1998 season
• Jay Clewer: Australian professional diver, who won medals at the 2009 and 2011 World Aquatics Championships

Other surnames

CleweClewemannClewes