About Cleave
The surname Cleave is of English origin and has two distinct meanings. Firstly, it can be derived from the Old English word "cleofan," meaning "to split or divide," and was likely used as an occupational name for someone who worked as a woodcutter or a carpenter. Secondly, it can also be derived from the Old English word "cleofian," meaning "to adhere or cling," and may have been used as a nickname for someone who was steadfast or loyal. Thus, the surname Cleave can signify either a woodcutter or someone who is loyal and steadfast.
The surname Cleave is a unique entry in our records. Discover more about its distribution and characteristics:
Below is the ethnic distribution of the surname Cleave based on recent US Census records. This is a brief glimpse into the diverse backgrounds of people carrying this surname.
Ranking information for the surname Cleave is not currently available.
Here's how to represent Cleave in Braille, each pattern of raised dots corresponds to a letter in the name.
The image below shows how you can spell Cleave using American Sign Language (ASL). In sign language, each hand shape corresponds to a specific a letter of the name.