Show ContentsClave History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The prestigious surname Clave originated in the beautiful and majestic region of Poitou in France. France was notorious for its eccentric kings, but it was revered for its contributions to European art and culture. The surname Clave originally came from the region of Poitou. It is a topographical name, which is a type of hereditary surname. Topographical surnames were taken from physical features or landmarks that the family lived near.

Early Origins of the Clave family

The surname Clave was first found in Poitou, where the family was anciently established in a village of Aunis, in the department of Charente-Inférieure, in the district of La Rochelle.

Early History of the Clave family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clave research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1815, 1826, 1835, 1881, 1904 and 1914 are included under the topic Early Clave History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clave Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Clave, de Clave, Clavé, Clavet, Clavette, Clavau, Clavaud, Clavaut, Clavaux and many more.

Early Notables of the Clave family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Adolphe-Charles Claveau (1815-1881), a doctor
  • Anatole Claveau (1835-1914), an advertiser

Clave Ranking

In France, the name Clave is the 5,305th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Clave family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Jean Claveau, a tailor, the son of Eustache and Catherine Bonnet, of Marand, in the diocese of LaRochelle, who married Marie-Louise Doyon in Quebec City in 1736.


Contemporary Notables of the name Clave (post 1700) +

  • Antoni Clavé, French artist and painter, Paris
  • Philippe Clave, army general, Versailles


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/


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