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Cleaver Family History

Cleaver Name Meaning

English (South Midlands and Oxfordshire): from Middle English clevere ‘one who cleaves’ (a derivative of Old English clēofan ‘to split’) hence an occupational name for someone who split wood into planks using a wedge rather than a saw or possibly for a butcher. Alternatively on occasion possibly a topographic name from Middle English cleve ‘bank slope’ (from the dative of Old English clif) + the suffix -er denoting an inhabitant. Americanized form of German and Dutch Klever and perhaps also of German Kliewer .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Weaver, Leader, Lever, Creamer, Beaver, Laver, Cleve, Klever, Cleaves

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Cleaver family from?

You can see how Cleaver families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cleaver family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cleaver families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 729 Cleaver families living in Warwickshire. This was about 27% of all the recorded Cleaver's in United Kingdom. Warwickshire had the highest population of Cleaver families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cleaver surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Cleaver ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cleaver. 9% of Cleaver men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Cleaver women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cleaver were Gardener and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Cleaver | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    9%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Gardener
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Cleaver family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 76,000 census records available for the last name Cleaver. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cleaver census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cleaver

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Cleaver. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Cleaver immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Cleaver. For the veterans among your Cleaver ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Cleaver lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Cleaver life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1959. The average life expectancy for Cleaver in 1945 was 29, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cleaver

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