This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Kleve family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Kleve Family History

Kleve Surname Meaning

German: habitational name from Kleve (earlier Cleve) in Lower Rhineland Westphalia or Schleswig-Holstein. The placename probably derives from an old topographic term cleve ‘swamp’. Compare Cleve.

German: variant of Klever.

Norwegian: habitational name from any of numerous farmsteads named Kleiva from Old Norse kleif klif ‘cliff rocky ascent with a road or path’.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kleve family from?

You can see how Kleve families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kleve family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Kleve families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there was 1 Kleve family living in Sussex. This was 100% of all the recorded Kleve's in United Kingdom. Sussex had the highest population of Kleve families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kleve surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Kleve ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kleve. 41% of Kleve men worked as a Laborer and 60% of Kleve women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kleve were Machinist and Teacher.

View Census Data for Kleve | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    41%
  • Farmer
    22%
  • Farm Laborer
    15%
  • Machinist
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    60%
  • Teacher
    40%

What Kleve family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Kleve. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kleve census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kleve

Passenger Lists

There are 567 immigration records available for the last name Kleve. 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 Kleve immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 599 military records available for the last name Kleve. For the veterans among your Kleve ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kleve military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kleve family history

Discover More

What is the average Kleve lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2003, in the United States, Kleve life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Kleve in 1952 was 45, and 82 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kleve

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kleve ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kleve family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial