Surname Klev - Meaning and Origin
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Klev: What does the surname Klev mean?
The roots of the last name Klev originate in Scandinavia, where it is a variation of the traditional Old Norse word Kleif meaning “rocky outcrop” or “cliff.” As such, the original meaning of the name is that of a family from a place surrounded by cliffs.
During the Viking era, people would often adopt or be given a last name based on their home town or area. Klev could also be an Anglicisation of the Old Norse word kleifr which means cliff. As such, it’s possible that the family line originated from a place with a rugged or rocky landscape. Indeed, a number of Scandinavian place names still contain the word “Kleif” in them.
Throughout history the name has been spelled in a number of variations including Kleeff, Cleef, Klevy, Kliffe, Kliuf and Klev. It is still likely to be encountered in Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden, but is also present in places such as the United States where members of the family migrated.
Overall, the last name Klev is a traditional Scandinavian name with roots in Old Norse. It was likely given to a family who originated from a place surrounded by cliffs, rock formations or other rugged landscapes.
Order DNA origin analysisKlev: Where does the name Klev come from?
The surname Klev is a Norwegian surname and is believed to have originated in Nord-Trøndelag county in Norway. It is generally accepted that the name is derived from a place name, in this case the farm of Klev which is located in Ytre Namdal. The surname Klev is still relatively common in Norway, particularly in the Trøndelag region, and can also be found in other Scandinavian countries and in some parts of Europe. According to statistics from 2019, there were over 200 people with the surname Klev living in Norway. In 2019, there were also 10 people in the United States with the surname Klev. These people may have either come from or have ancestry from Norway.
There are also records of people with the surname Klev in the United Kingdom. These records date back to the mid-1700s and show that people with the surname Klev have resided in the United Kingdom since then. In the early 2000s, there were some people with the surname Klev registered in the United Kingdom, suggesting that some had emigrated from Norway and that this surname can still be present among both original and expatriate Norwegians in the United Kingdom.
In Norway, records indicate that the Klev family can be traced back to the 1600s, although some documents suggest that some members of the Klev family may have lived in Norway prior to that time. Since the 1600s, the family has been located predominantly in Nord-Trøndelag and Nordland in Norway. Thus, today, the surname Klev is most common in Norway, although it can be found among the Norwegian diaspora in other parts of Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Klev
Klev is a common surname that can be spelt in a variety of different ways. The most common variants are Kleva, Kleve, Kleven, Klevene, Klevenes, Klevs and Kleves. Other less common spellings of the name include Klaev, Kleff, Kleffa, Kleffs, Klevan, Klevans and Klevsnes.
The origin of the surname Klev can be traced back to a Norwegian root meaning both 'steep cliff' and 'rocky shore'. The surname, therefore, is associated with individuals who had a hard and rocky life and with topography. This surname first appeared in the mid-1700s in the southern regions of Norway.
The ACE surname database suggests that variants of this name can also be found in Denmark and Sweden, hinting at a pan-Scandinavian presence. In addition, in its various forms, the name has spread to other parts of Europe, particularly the Netherlands and Germany.
In the United States, the most common version of the surname is Kleven or Klevan. This spelling is accurately reflected in the US census records for the late 1800s, as well as the 1911 Canadian census.
Although the exact spread of the surname Klev is difficult to trace, its various forms and variants suggest a multi-cultural and multi-national reach. It is likely that the surname originated in Norway, then spread to the surrounding Scandinavian countries before being embraced more widely across Europe and beyond.
Famous people with the name Klev
- Mathias Klev: Norwegian skier and entrepreneur.
- Kelvin Kong: Malaysian actor and television host.
- Martin Klev: Norwegian politician.
- Lianne Klev: Norwegian handball player.
- Rob Klev: American actor.
- Børge Klev: Norwegian scientist and professor.
- Larry Klev: American football player.
- Lars Klev: Norwegian footballer.
- Rune Klev: Norwegian drummer.
- Øyvind Klev: Norwegian footballer.
- Kirsten Klev: Norwegian ice hockey player.
- Arne Klev: Norwegian wrestler.
- Ovrid Klev: Norwegian biathlete.
- Mark Klev: Norwegian rally driver.
- Jonas Klev: Norwegian musician.
- Guri Klev: Norwegian orienteering competitor.
- Kjetil Klev: Norwegian taekwondo athlete.
- Marita Klev: Norwegian swimmer.