Show ContentsCleverley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Cleverley belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in the region of Clevely in the parish of Church Enstone, inside the county of Oxford.

Early Origins of the Cleverley family

The surname Cleverley was first found in Oxfordshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Cleverley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cleverley research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1611, 1786 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Cleverley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cleverley Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Cleverley include Cleveley, Clevly, Cleverly, Clyveleye, Clevelley and others.

Early Notables of the Cleverley family

More information is included under the topic Early Cleverley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cleverley family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Cleverley were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: James Cleverly who arrived in Philadelphia in 1880.


Contemporary Notables of the name Cleverley (post 1700) +

  • Samuel Cleverley (d. 1824), English physician, the son of William Cleverley, a shipbuilder of Gravesend [1]


  1. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020


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