Family names were created as an answer to a need: when a population became too big, it was no longer possible to distinguish between persons with the same first name, so a second name was added to avoid confusion.

In Flanders this happened relatively early, already in the twelfth century.

Most names originated as nick names. They refer eather either to a fathers name and were created by using the father's name and adding "son". This became abbreviated to an "s" (Jacobs, Willems....) or even disappeared . A second source was the place where you lived (Cleemput, Van Gijseghem, Van Overschelde....), a profession (Stalpaert, De Smedt....) or simply a special characteristic or shortcoming (Krombeen, De Witte, De Lange....).

The name Clauwaert could have originated in each of these 4 forms. Those who expect us to give here the one and only explanation of this name are mistaken. We leave that to the experts:

source: De Vlaamse Stam, orgaan van de VVF.

As per the "de Nederlandsche Leeuw" there was in the middle-ages (before 1300) in Noord Nederland a first-name "Clauwert" in use. Clauwaerts may have stood for Clauwaertszoon, later shortened to Clauwaert.

Also the place where they lived could be the source of the name. In a one hundred year old publication, "Nomina Geographica Neerlandica" written by J. Broekema is given the following explanation: In the city name "Kleverskerke" (with a claw of a bird in their coat of arms) we find an early form of the name Clauwaert. This could be a corruption of the name "Klefhart" or "Klafhart".

source: Frans Clauwaert

Two totally contrary explanations are given by A. Van Geertsom who wrote the article in "de Vlaamse Stam" (see above) and Fr. De Brabandere / G. Dupas who both believed in the heraldic symbol of the Flemish Lion:

source: Frans Clauwaert

source: Frans Clauwaert

The "Archives Héraldique Suisse" also propose the same explenation:

source: Frans Clauwaert

Last but not least we have the explanation of the special characteristics:

source: Frans Clauwaert

Special thanks to Frans Clauwaert, Switzerland, for the research.