Surname Cleves - Meaning and Origin
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Cleves: What does the surname Cleves mean?
The surname Cleves is of German origin and is derived from the region of Cleves, a small city located near the Dutch border. This surname is believed to have originated during the Middle Ages and was initially used to denote someone who came from the city of Cleves.
The name is derived from the Old German word “Kleve”, which means a “cliff” or “bank”. It is believed that the original viewers of the region gave the name to the river that bisects the city and started using it as a surname when settlers filled the area.
Over time the name gradually spread to other countries as more and more people moved away from the original homeland. It can now be found in several variations around the world. Variants of the name include Kleve, Kloef, Kleefeld, Kloeef, Klof and many others.
The surname Cleves is often associated with loyalty, bravery and stability. People who bear this surname are known for their strong work ethic and loyalty to their family and community. Some of the most notable bearers of the surname Cleves include Dutch physicist and mathematician Bernard Cleve, British physicist Mary Cleves, and German explorer Hendrick van Cleve.
Order DNA origin analysisCleves: Where does the name Cleves come from?
The last name Cleves is most common today in Europe, with the highest concentration of people using the surname living in Germany. It is a habitational name, thought to be derived from the town of Cleves in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. This area of Germany is thought to have been inhabited as far back as Celtic times.
In Germany, there are several variations of the surname, including Kleve, Claeve, Kloven, Kleeven, Klewes, Kleffens, Klovenhoven, Kleeves, Klovens, Klovenhoff, Klöven, Klaasen, and Klebens.
In the Netherlands, the surname is commonly spelled Cleef. This is thought to be derived from the Middle-Dutch term 'cleven', which translates as 'carved out'.
Outside of Europe, the surname Cleves is present in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Immigrants who arrived from Germany, the Netherlands, and other European countries brought the surname with them.
Today, Cleves is a popular surname in the United States, particularly in the states of Texas, New York, California, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin. It is also popular in California, New York, and Florida. The surname is also found in the United Kingdom, especially in the north of England.
Variations of the surname Cleves
The surname Cleves is of German origin. It is an anglicized version of the German capital city name of Klev or Kleve. Variants of Cleves include Kleves, Klevs, Kleys, Kliefs, Clieve, and Clief. It may also be written as Cleve, Kleve, Kleeves, Kleefe, Kleeves, Kleffs, Cliefe, Cleff, Cleefe, or Kleef.
The anglicized version of the German name Klev gave rise to surnames such as Cleve, Clieve, Clief, and Kleefe. The surname Cleff originated from Hesse-Kassel in Germany, and is derived from the city of Klev. The name Clef and Clief also have the same origins, but were derived from different languages. The surname Kleeves is derived from the Old German word Klee meaning ‘clever’ or ‘cleverly made’, and was used to describe those with a skilled mind or art.
Germany is not the only place where the surname Kleef or Cleves can be found. Several other countries adopted the surname and gave rise to its variants such as Cliefe, Cleef, and Kleff. The Italian surname Clemente is derived from the Latin Clemens, which could be related to Cleves. The German surname Kleve is a form of the English name Clef, which is a variant of Cleves.
The American variants of the surname Cleves include Clieves, Clieves, and Kleef. These also likely derived from the German city of Klev or Kleve. The Irish Cleef surname is a variant of Cleves, and may have originated in the Irish province of Leinster. The Dutch surname Klees is a form of Cleves, derived from the Old Dutch word Klee meaning ‘clever’ or ‘cleverly made’.
Famous people with the name Cleves
- Anne of Cleves (1515-1557), fourth wife of King Henry VIII of England.
- Alice of Cleves, Queen of France (1404-1462).
- Marie, Duchess of Cleves (1515-1561), consort to John III, Duke of Cleves.
- John III of Cleves (1490-1539), Duke of Cleves and Count of the Mark.
- William I, Duke of Cleves (1450-1521), founder of Cleves dynasty.
- Anthonie of Cleves (1458-1527), Duchess of Orléans, sister to William I, Duke of Cleves.
- Mary of Cleves (1429-1457), wife of Jean de Foix, Count of Grave.
- William of Cleves (1445-1509), Bishop of Münster and father of Anne of Cleves.
- Marie of Cleves, Madam de Tendre (1487-1545), governess to the children of King Francis I of France.
- Anne of Cleves, Countess of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1496-1559), daughter of John III, Duke of Cleves.