The Gleave/Gleaves project welcomes anyone interested in discovering more about their Gleave genealogy. If your surname is Gleave, Gleaves, Gleyve, Glave, Cleave, McGleave or a similar variant, please consider joining. The main aim in establishing the project is to try to determine common heritage through DNA testing and genealogical research. We encourage sharing among group project members, and will actively help all members break through their brick walls.

There are different schools of thought regarding the origins of the Gleave surname. Gleyve was the middle English name for a sword derived from the Old French glaive/gleive thus was considered an occupational name for a swordsman, spearman or seller of swords. Another interpretation is that Gleave was  the winner of a race in which a lance was set up as the winning post or the location where such a race took place. The Cambridgeshire branch of the Gleaves family have shared a fascinating fact that a Gleave was a fishing implement used in the Cambridgeshire fens for spearing eels.

Please note that data protection of all members is a high priority for the Gleave project. Youare welcome to contact the Adminstrator with any question regarding this project or suggestions on how to improve the site.