NameCensus.

UK surname

Cleave

A surname derived from Old English meaning "hill" or "cliff".

In the 1881 census there were 859 people recorded with the Cleave surname, ranking it #4,404 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 776, ranked #7,097, down from #4,404 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chudleigh, London parishes and St Kew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Torridge and The Vale of Glamorgan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cleave is 1,027 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.7%.

1881 census count

859

Ranked #4,404

Modern count

776

2016, ranked #7,097

Peak year

1911

1,027 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cleave had 859 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,404 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 776 in 2016, ranked #7,097.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,027 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cleave surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cleave surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cleave surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cleave over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 607 #4,242
1861 historical 466 #5,573
1881 historical 859 #4,404
1891 historical 792 #5,075
1901 historical 941 #4,969
1911 historical 1,027 #4,456
1997 modern 844 #6,279
1998 modern 874 #6,298
1999 modern 884 #6,297
2000 modern 860 #6,392
2001 modern 832 #6,453
2002 modern 824 #6,616
2003 modern 793 #6,697
2004 modern 794 #6,712
2005 modern 803 #6,599
2006 modern 811 #6,548
2007 modern 799 #6,699
2008 modern 809 #6,681
2009 modern 810 #6,819
2010 modern 830 #6,824
2011 modern 797 #6,974
2012 modern 786 #6,945
2013 modern 781 #7,110
2014 modern 789 #7,086
2015 modern 795 #6,969
2016 modern 776 #7,097

Geography

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Where Cleaves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chudleigh, London parishes, St Kew and Widecombe-in-the-Moor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Torridge, The Vale of Glamorgan and West Devon. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Chudleigh Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Kew Cornwall
4 Widecombe-in-the-Moor Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
2 Torridge 008 Torridge
3 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
4 The Vale of Glamorgan 014 Vale of Glamorgan
5 West Devon 001 West Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cleave

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cleave surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cleave

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cleave, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Cleave surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cleave household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cleave is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cleave is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cleave falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cleave is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cleave, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cleave

The surname Cleave is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "clif" meaning a cliff, bank, or slope. It is believed to have first emerged in areas of England with a significant Anglo-Saxon population, such as the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Godric de Cliue in Somerset. This spelling variation, "Cliue," further supports the name's connection to the Old English word for cliff or slope.

In the 12th century, the name appears in various medieval records as "Clyve" and "Clive," suggesting its evolution from the original Anglo-Saxon root. During this period, the surname was often associated with individuals living near cliffs or slopes, indicating a topographical connection.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert Cleave, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He was born around 1320 and served under Edward III, participating in several campaigns against the French.

Another historical figure was John Cleave, a 16th-century English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Cheddar in Somerset from 1541 to 1588. He was known for his contributions to religious and educational matters during the Reformation era.

In the 17th century, the surname appears in various spellings, including "Cleave," "Cleeve," and "Cleve." One prominent individual from this period was Samuel Cleave, a merchant and philanthropist born in 1630 in Exeter, Devon. He made significant contributions to the city's development and established several charitable foundations.

The name Cleave also has connections to place names, such as the village of Cleve in Somerset, which likely derived its name from the same Old English root. Additionally, there are references to locations like Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire and Cleeve Prior in Worcestershire, further reinforcing the topographical association.

Other notable bearers of the Cleave surname include William Cleave (1742-1815), an English poet and writer, and Sir Charles Cleave (1836-1912), a British military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Trinidad and Tobago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cleave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cleave surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 298 Cleaves recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.83x.

County Total Index
Devon 298 16.83x
Cornwall 216 22.43x
Middlesex 111 1.30x
Surrey 53 1.28x
Hampshire 52 2.98x
Somerset 17 1.24x
Berkshire 12 1.88x
Monmouthshire 11 1.79x
Channel Islands 10 3.97x
Lancashire 10 0.10x
Northumberland 9 0.71x
Warwickshire 9 0.42x
Wigtownshire 8 7.08x
Essex 7 0.42x
Kent 6 0.21x
Wiltshire 6 0.80x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.97x
Gloucestershire 5 0.30x
Lanarkshire 5 0.18x
Herefordshire 4 1.15x
Renfrewshire 3 0.46x
Royal Navy 3 2.96x
Sussex 3 0.21x
Yorkshire 3 0.04x
Leicestershire 2 0.21x
Bedfordshire 1 0.23x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Dorset 1 0.18x
Norfolk 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Egloshayle in Cornwall leads with 44 Cleaves recorded in 1881 and an index of 973.45x.

Place Total Index
Egloshayle 44 973.45x
St Kew 34 1059.19x
Crediton 22 131.11x
Portsea 21 6.15x
Widdecombeinthe Moor 21 886.08x
Bethnal Green London 17 4.60x
Chudleigh 16 284.19x
Launcells 15 925.93x
Bromley London 14 7.48x
Falmouth 14 41.07x
Lambeth 13 1.75x
Stoke Damerel 13 10.49x
Broad Clist 12 196.40x
Shoreditch London 12 3.25x
Bedminster 11 8.55x
Lidford 11 138.36x
New Windsor 11 51.23x
St Breock 11 211.54x
Clovelly 10 432.90x
Newington 10 3.18x
St Marylebone London 10 2.20x
Totnes 10 96.53x
Basingstoke 9 44.89x
Bermondsey 9 3.55x
Chepstow 9 85.96x
Exeter St Thomas The 9 49.86x
Hannington 9 1097.56x
Trusham 9 1764.71x
Aston 8 1.35x
Chelsea London 8 3.12x
Newlyn 8 194.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 5.87x
St Helier 8 9.75x
St Pancras London 8 1.17x
Westminster St James 8 9.15x
Bradworthy 7 271.32x
Inch 7 63.58x
Kilkhampton 7 246.48x
Kingsteignton 7 142.28x
Merther 7 972.22x
Moreton Hampstead 7 152.84x
Newton Abbot St Mary 7 47.14x
Rewe 7 853.66x
St Wenn 7 443.04x
Washfield 7 603.45x
Withiel 7 588.24x
Bideford 6 31.63x
Bovey Tracey 6 96.93x
Boyton 6 535.71x
Camberwell 6 1.10x
Cove 6 262.01x
Exeter Holy Trinity 6 86.46x
Exeter St George The 6 307.69x
Paddington London 6 1.92x
St Erme 6 405.41x
Battersea 5 1.60x
Christow 5 292.40x
Cubert 5 458.72x
Hammersmith London 5 2.39x
Keynsham 5 50.86x
Mile End Old Town London 5 2.76x
Oxted 5 100.20x
Slapton 5 277.78x
St Austell 5 15.19x
Tavistock 5 24.79x
Tynemouth 5 7.38x
Ugborough 5 116.82x
Upton Cum Chalvey 5 24.40x
Beerferris 4 115.94x
Bradninch 4 80.16x
Clawton 4 307.69x
Downton 4 40.65x
Exeter St Mary Major 4 37.49x
Ideford 4 481.93x
Linkinhorne 4 59.61x
Liskeard 4 24.83x
Marhamchurch 4 254.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.34x
St Stephen In Brannel 4 45.56x
Staverton 4 183.49x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cleave surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cleave surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 64
John 55
Thomas 33
James 29
Richard 27
Walter 19
Robert 18
Charles 14
Henry 12
Alfred 10
George 10
Joseph 9
Harry 8
Samuel 8
Albert 6
Arthur 6
Francis 6
Ernest 5
Frederick 5
Edward 4
Frank 4
Wm. 4
Andrew 3
Benjamin 3
Edmund 3
Joses 3
Louis 3
Sidney 3
Edwin 2
Elias 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Horatio 2
Lewes 2
Nicholas 2
Percy 2
Robt. 2
Thos. 2
Alf. 1
Arnold 1
Aron 1
Catherine 1
Daniel 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Morcomb 1
Moses 1
Oliver 1

FAQ

Cleave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cleave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 859 people were recorded with the Cleave surname. That placed it at #4,404 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cleave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 776 in 2016. That gives Cleave a modern rank of #7,097.

What does the Cleave surname mean?

A surname derived from Old English meaning "hill" or "cliff".

What does the Cleave map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cleave bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.