A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kleve family of Germany.
Reg. 5259 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur à une bande de gu., ch. de trois étoiles d'or; au 2 d'arg. à trois roses de gu., bout. d'or, rangées en pal. Cq. cour. C.: un vol de couleur brunâtre, le dossier d'or. L. d'azur, de gu., d'or et d'arg.”
MecklenburgMecklenburg, c. 1845
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Kleve arms are recorded
The Kleve arms were recorded in Mecklenburg, c. 1845.
Mecklenburg was farming country in the north of Germany, held by a small number of families who kept their estates for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so a great many Mecklenburg names ended up in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Frederick William IV of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William IV of Prussia
1840–1861
Reigning in Germany when the Kleve arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Mecklenburg.
Origin & History of the Kleve Family in Germany
The surname Kleve is a topographic name that originated in Northern Germany, specifically derived from the Middle Low German word "kleve," which refers to a cliff or a steep slope. Families who adopted this name often lived near such geographical features, as it served as a practical way to identify people based on their surroundings before formal surnames became mandatory. By the mid-19th century, records confirm that members of the Kleve family were established in the Mecklenburg region. During this period, Mecklenburg was a rural area dominated by agriculture and small village life, where families were often tied to the land for generations. The movement of the Kleve family within this territory reflects the broader patterns of German migration during the 1840s, a time when many families began to seek new opportunities while maintaining their deep roots in local village communities.
Kleve Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Clivus
Latin term for a slope, hill, or rising ground.
This name
KleveRefers to a person who lived near a steep hill or cliffside.
also spelled
Kleve
Cleve
Klev
Von Klev ouf Karov
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Landeshauptarchiv Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Schwerinsche Volkszählung 1845, Series 2.12-3/2
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
