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Surname van Clev - Meaning and Origin

all surnames with 'V'

van Clev: What does the surname van Clev mean?

The last name van Clev is derived from the Dutch name "van Cleef," meaning "of the cliff" or "from the cliff." The name dates back to the 13th century when it was used by members of a Dutch noble family who owned a number of properties near cliffs in the Netherlands. The family crest is an embattlement on top of a cliff, signifying their strong connection to their ancestral land and the connection to their home.

The Van Cleef's were significant landowners and played an important role in Dutch politics, from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Over the centuries, many of them served in the court of the Dutch King as courtiers or even as ministers, holding high positions in government. After a few generations, the direct family line became extinct and their property was passed on to Vanessa and her children.

Today, the van Clev surname is still used by many families around the world, especially in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. People who share the van Clev surname are often proud of their ancestry and strong family ties and can be found in all walks of life. Although the word “van” is no longer part of the surname, it still implies a connection to the old Dutch noble family.

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van Clev: Where does the name van Clev come from?

The last name van Clev is most commonly found in the Netherlands, especially in the western regions of the country. Primarily, the name is distributed across the provinces of North Netherlands (Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel and Flevoland) and South Netherlands (Zeeland, North Brabant and Limburg). The name can also be found in other parts of the world, including various parts of the United States, Canada, Belgium, and other countries with significant Dutch or Flemish diaspora populations.

The origin of the name van Clev is a combination of a location with the name 'Clev' (a large area of land which is believed to have been located somewhere in the western part of Friesland at the times of the adoption of the name) and a woman's first name which was probably 'van’. Over the centuries, the name has gone through various spelling variations which include van Clevé, van Cleve, de Clevé, de Cleve, cleve, and Clevé.

The meaning of the name van Clev can be interpreted as ‘of the land of Clev’, which was likely the original landplot where the family or the individual originated from. Today, van Clev is a common surname associated with Dutch heritage and Dutch-speaking areas. The name is also occasionally found in certain parts of the United Kingdom, where many Dutch settlers moved to during the 17th century.

Variations of the surname van Clev

The surname van Clev has many variants and spellings, with some bearing similar roots and others with slight mutations to the original spelling.

Variants of ‘van Clev’ include ‘Vancleve’, ‘VanCleve’ and ‘Van Cleve’. These variations all have the same origin in the Netherlands and were adopted when people emigrated to other areas.

The ‘vancClev’ spelling has remained mostly unchanged in the Netherlands, while slight mutations have become more popular elsewhere. These mutations include ‘Vancleave’, ‘Vankeleve’, ‘Vankelave’ and ‘Vankelve’.

The surname also has many other spellings and variants which are related to the original. These include ‘VanCleave’, ‘VanKleve’, ‘VanCleef’, ‘VanKloef’ and ‘VanKlieff’.

Many of these spellings and variants of ‘van Clev’ have their own surnames which are also of the same origin. These include ‘VanCleef’, ‘VanCleefs’, ‘VanCleaves’ and ‘VanKleves’.

In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings and surnames for the surname ‘van Clev’, all of which originated from the Netherlands and have been adopted by people who have emigrated to other regions.

Famous people with the name van Clev

  • Robert van Clev: Robert van Clev is a Dutch businessman and philanthropist currently living in New York City. He is the former CEO of Pakker Group, a private equity firm, and the co-founder and chairman of its philanthropic foundation.
  • Cecilia van Clev: Cecilia van Clev is a well-known Dutch singer-songwriter who initially gained fame by competing on The Voice of Holland in 2014. She has released three successful albums since then and has performed in music festivals around the world.
  • Sofia van Clev: Sofia van Clev is a multidisciplinary photographer and artist from The Netherlands whose work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in Amsterdam. She is well-known for her surrealist and dreamlike photography.
  • Aad van Clev: Aad van Clev is a Dutch philanthropist and venture capitalist. He is known for being the founder and chairman of the Van Clev Foundation, which focuses on providing access to education to children in the developing world.
  • Nadine van Clev: Nadine van Clev is a Dutch fashion designer and founder of the luxury brand Nadine Boutique. Her designs are inspired by her travels around the world and have been worn by some of the world's most famous celebrities.
  • Pieter van Clev: Pieter van Clev is a famous Dutch painter and sculptor who is well-known for his abstract works. He has exhibited his work in galleries all over Europe and is considered one of Holland's most influential modern artists.

Other surnames

Van Cleavevan Cleefvan CleevVan Cleevevan CleffVan CleveVan Clief

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