Surname Cleef - Meaning and Origin
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Cleef: What does the surname Cleef mean?
The last name Cleef is of Dutch origin. Its earliest known use dates back to the early 1600s in the provinces of Flanders and Brabant (belonging to present day Belgium and the Netherlands). The name is likely a Dutch occupational name, derived from the Dutch word “kleef,” which means “glue.” Therefore, it was likely originally bestowed upon a producer or seller of glue.
The original spelling of the name was “de Cleef” (or “van Cleef”) which meant “of Cleef” or “from Cleef.” It was actively used as a surname until the 19th century, and was later used to name places and institutions.
It is highly likely that the Cleef family originated in the town of the same name. Located in the Dutch province of North Brabant, the town of Cleef is known for its 13th century castle and is now a popular tourist destination.
The name Cleef continues to be mentioned in the Netherlands today. It is a popular name, carried by numerous families and businesses in the Netherlands, as well as by several immigrants to the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil.
Order DNA origin analysisCleef: Where does the name Cleef come from?
The last name Cleef is most common today in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. In the Netherlands, it is most commonly found in the provinces of Noord-Holland and Utrecht. Some Dutch-speaking parts of French-speaking Belgium also have the last name Cleef, particularly in the Antwerp and Vlaams-Brabant provinces.
In Germany, the most prevalent region for the Cleef name is the North Rhine-Westphalia region, particularly the cities of Aachen, Kalkar, and Emmerich; though Cleef is also seen elsewhere in the country.
The Belgian-Dutch last name, Cleef, is derived from the Dutch word “Kleef”, which refers to an old town located in West Germany called Kleve, near the Dutch border. The name of this town is thought to come from the Celtic-Germanic tribe of Colevae. The tribe name means “cliff” or “below the cliff”, which refers to a limestone hill near the old town of Kleve.
In the United States, Cleef is not an uncommon last name. There are Cleefs associated with the United States Army, which suggests that Cleefs may have immigrated to the U.S. from Europe. There is also a variant spelling of the name known as Kleeff.
Variations of the surname Cleef
The surname Cleef is likely derived from the Dutch surname “Kleef”. Although rare, it is found mainly in the Netherlands and in areas that were previously part of the Dutch empire such as South Africa, Suriname and the former Dutch East Indies. This surname appears in many different spellings and variants, including Cluster, Kleef, Kleeff, Kleeft, Kleyff, Kleyft, Cloef, Kleif, Kleife, Kleffer, Kleiffer, Kleiver, Cleev, Cleve, Cleves, Cleef, Cleefe, Cleefs, and Cleves.
In addition to the aforementioned variations, the surname Kleef may also be found in more localized variants, depending on the region. For example, in some parts of the UK, such as Northern Ireland, the spelling of the surname may be altered to Cleave, Cleaves or Clewing, while in the US it may take on an Americanized form such as Cliffe or Cleif.
In some cases, those with the surname Kleef may also be known by other surnames derived from variants of Kleef. For instance, in France, the surname Kleef may have been changed to Clave and Claf, while in Austria it may be found as Clavig.
Overall, the name Cleef is relatively rare, and thus it is important to consider all possible spellings and variants to ensure one’s search for this surname’s origin is successful.
Famous people with the name Cleef
- Lee Van Cleef: Lee Van Cleef (1925-1989) was an American actor most famous for appearing in spaghetti Westerns, particularly in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly with Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach. He was memorable for his unusual eyes, which earned him his nickname "The Man with the Ice-Blue Eyes".
- Johannes Cleef: Johannes Cleef (1912-1994) was a Dutch film producer and director. He was involved in a number of notable projects such as The Invasion of the Siberian Boogeymen and A Few Miles of Snow, both of which won awards during their respective film festivals.
- Angie Cleef: Angie Cleef (1962-present) is an American actress known for her roles in the horror genres. Angie's most prominent roles were in the films Terror Train, and in Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest.
- Erwin Cleef: Erwin Cleef (1931-2004) was a Dutch television personality, best known for hosting the show De Wereld Draait Door, one of the most popular Dutch television shows for many years.
- Willem Cleef: Willem Cleef (1908-1986) was a Dutch playwright, actor and director. He wrote the play "De Kwestie van de Wilhelminstraat", which was adapted into a movie of the same name in 1971. He was also involved in the creation of several other plays such as "De Laatste Schaduw" and "Het Deuxieme Oog".