Clever History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe founding heritage of the Clever family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Clever comes from when one of the family worked as a person who worked with wood. The surname is derived from the Old English word cleofan which means to cleave or split. [1] [2] The variant Clevenger was derived from the occupation "as one who cleaves wood." Two sources postulate that the name could also have originated from "a dweller on a cleave or cliff." [3] [1] Early Origins of the Clever familyThe surname Clever was first found in Norfolk where Simon le Claver, was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. [4] Later, Agnes le Claver and John le Claver were both listed in Norfolk in 1333 [5] In London, the source Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum in Turri Londinesi lists Henry le Claver and John le Clavier. In Sussex, Richard and John le Cleuar were listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1332. [1] Early History of the Clever familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clever research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1332, 1379, 1742, 1746, 1784, 1785, 1787, 1790, 1800, 1806, 1815 and 1819 are included under the topic Early Clever History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Clever Spelling VariationsThe first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Clever has been spelled many different ways, including Cleever, Cleaver, Clever, Kleever, Kleaver, Cleevar, Cleavar, Cliver, Cleiver, Clivar, Cleevor, Clearvor, Cleevare, Clevenger, Kleevare, Cleavare, Kleavare and many more. Early Notables of the Clever familyNotables of this surname at this time include: William Cleaver (1742-1815), Bishop of St. Asaph, the eldest son of the Rev. W. Cleaver, master of a private school at Twyford in Buckinghamshire, and was the elder brother of Archbishop Cleaver. Cleaver became tutor to the Marquis of Buckingham. He was successively made vicar of Northop in Flintshire, prebendary of Westminster (1784)... Clever RankingIn the United States, the name Clever is the 11,575th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [6]
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Clevers to arrive in North America: Clever Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Clever Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
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