Cleaver Family History

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.