Cleverink History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Cleverink is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Cleverink family lived in Essex, where they held lands and a family seat at Clavering. "The village is irregularly built, but contains some respectable houses, and the surrounding scenery is agreeably diversified. The church is a spacious and handsome edifice of stone, with an embattled tower. " 1

Early Origins of the Cleverink family

The surname Cleverink was first found in Essex where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Clavering. They are said to be descended from Eustace, a Norman noble who had two sons, Serlo and John. The former built Knaresborough Castle. The latter had a son Pagan, and Eustace, the progenitor of the Clavering line.

At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book survey in 1086 A.D. the village of Clavering held a Mill, 5 beehives, a foal, 23 goats, and a sail-less windmill. The castle, of which the moats still survive, was built before the Conquest by Robert FitzWinarc. The village was held by the Swein (Earl) of Essex. 2

Another reference has a slightly different origin of the family: "Robert Fitz-Roger, Baron of Warkworth, the ancestor of this great Norman family, was father of John, who assumed the name 'Clavering,' from a lordship in Essex, as it is said, by the appointment of King Edward I. From Sir Alan, younger brother of John, the present family is descended." 3

Early History of the Cleverink family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cleverink research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1565, 1592, 1607, 1620, 1629, 1630, 1648, 1649, 1656, 1658, 1668, 1672, 1698, 1702, 1707, 1714, 1715, 1727, 1731, 1734, 1741, 1762, 1848, 1850, 1866 and 1867 are included under the topic Early Cleverink History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cleverink Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Clavering, Clafering, Claffering, Clavring and others.

Early Notables of the Cleverink family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was James Clavering (1565-1630), an English merchant adventurer, Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1607 who bought an estate at Axwell House, near Blaydon on Tyne in 1629; John Clavering (c. 1592-1648); and his son, Sir James Clavering, 1st Baronet (1620-1702), an English landowner and politician, High Sheriff of Durham in 1649, Member of Parliament for Durham (1656-1658); James Clavering, 2nd Baronet (1668-1707), who took part in...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cleverink Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cleverink family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Cleverink or a variant listed above: Anthony Clavrin who settled in the Carolinas in 1730.

The Cleverink Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ad coelos volans
Motto Translation: Flying to the heavens.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.