Surname van Cleev - Meaning and Origin
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van Cleev: What does the surname van Cleev mean?
The last name Van Cleev is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the Dutch word ‘van’ meaning “from” or “of” and ‘Cleev’ which likely refers to a place or family name. The earliest known records of the name are found in documents dating back to the 16th century in the Netherlands.
The Van Cleeves are a humble and hardworking group who are proud of their contributions to their communities. Historically, members of this family have worked in many different professions - from farming to law to engineering and even politics - and often held positions of responsibility. They have a strong sense of loyalty to their families and are protective of their own.
Today, the Van Cleev family is comprised of a wide range of nationalities. Many members have spread across the world, creating networks of Van Cleev relatives in the America’s, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other countries.
In summary, the Van Cleev family is a diverse group, whose members have contributed much to the success and prosperity of nations around the world. While they may have originally originated from a certain place or family, today they are spread across the continents, and the only thing that remains true is that this is a family which values hard work and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisvan Cleev: Where does the name van Cleev come from?
The last name van Cleev is primarily associated with the Netherlands, where it is one of the most common surnames. It is an archaic Dutch surname that has been in use since the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Van Clieve, which was originally a family of vassal knights from the Lower Rhine area who held five fiefdoms. The surname appeared in records from as early as the 14th century, when it was found in a range of documents from military records and charters.
In modern times, the surname van Cleev is still found predominantly in the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of Noord-Brabant and Limburg. It is also sometimes found in neighboring countries such as Belgium, Germany, and France. In the United States, the surname is fairly uncommon except in Dutch communities, such as Albany, New York and Pella, Iowa.
In addition, van Cleev has acquired additional spellings over time, such as Cleef, van Cleeve, van Kleef, and Kleefe. These other variations are largely confined to regions where the surname has been used the longest, such as the Netherlands and Belgium.
Variations of the surname van Cleev
Van Cleev is a Dutch-origin surname which has different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of the surname is Van Cleef, while other forms include Van Cleve, Vandeleye, Cleve, Cleef, Cleeve, and Van Cleefs.
Van Cleef is an old Dutch diminutive for 'Clod', which was a nickname for a chubby or round person. It was a popular surname among Dutch immigrants in Colonial America, and is most commonly found in the South and Midwest United States today.
The alternate spelling of Van Cleve is often used in Canada. The Van or Von denotes nobility in Dutch surnames, while Cleve is the archaic spelling of Cleef. This spelling is also found among modern Dutch families where the origin is “van Kleef”.
The variant Vandeleye is found in Belgium and is likely derived from the Dutch words vander leye, which translates to 'around the lake'. This variant is rare in America.
The other spelling variations, Cleve, Cleef and Cleeve are primarily British and Canadian variants, and can also be found in Dutch-speaking regions.
The surname Van Cleev may also be found on other continents, in African countries in particular, as many Dutch settlers moved to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Namibia in the 19th and 20th centuries. The spelling may differ slightly due to differences in pronunciation and accents, but still refers to the same branch of the Dutch family.
Famous people with the name van Cleev
- Ernst van Cleef (Dutch actor and screenwriter)
- Geertruida van Cleef (Dutch resistance fighter and Nazi collaborator)
- Judith van Cleef (American sculptor and painter)
- Oliver van Cleef (Dutch-born actor)
- Robert van Cleef (Dutch footballer and coach)
- Roger van Cleef (Dutch singer, songwriter and guitarist)
- Stan van Cleef (Dutch-born actor)
- Tony van Cleef (Dutch football player and coach)
- Willy van Cleef (Dutch actor and director)
- Floris van Cleef (Dutch painter of landscapes and seascapes)