A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cleve family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. an escarbuncle sa”
The Cleve arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
Reigning in England when the Cleve arms are first recorded.
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
The surname Cleve is primarily topographical in origin, meaning it was originally used to identify people who lived near a cliff or a steep slope. In Middle English, the word *clive* or *cleve* described such a geographical feature, and families living in these locations often adopted the name to distinguish themselves from others in their community. By the early 17th century, the name was firmly established in Northern England, with records confirming that members of the Cleve family were living in the historic city of York by 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families like the Cleves were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled trades that supported the city’s economy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, carrying a name that served as a direct link to the rugged landscapes of the English countryside.
Old English word for a steep slope or riverbank.
