In partnership with
Receive Honest News Today
Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.
Who the Hell is Cleve, Anyway?
Cleveland.
The name doesn’t exactly scream glamour. (Sorry, Paris. Sorry, Milan. Sorry, Ibiza.) But we’ve all just accepted it—like, sure, Cleveland. Sounds fine. But have you ever stopped and thought… who the hell is Cleve?
Turns out, Cleveland wasn’t named after a mythical founding father with a handlebar mustache and a love for kielbasa.
Nope.
We actually got our name from a guy named Moses Cleaveland.
Yes, with an extra “a.”
Meet Moses Cleaveland: The Accidental Namesake
Moses wasn’t even a Clevelander. He was from Connecticut, a lawyer, surveyor, and soldier who helped lead the Connecticut Land Company’s expedition out west in 1796.
They were basically real estate speculators who looked at Northeast Ohio and said, “Yeah, this swampy mosquito-infested forest? Let’s sell it!”
Fun fact: Cleaveland only spent about three months here before he left and never came back. The guy literally lent his name to the city and then peaced out forever.
So Why “Cleveland” and Not “Cleaveland”?
Blame the newspaper. Early printers supposedly dropped the extra “a” in “Cleaveland” because it didn’t fit neatly in the newspaper’s masthead.
And Cleveland without the “a” just… stuck. That’s right—our city’s entire branding was decided by someone worried about kerning.
🤩 Fun Facts:
Moses Cleaveland intended that his namesake city be the capital city of the Western Reserve.
Moses’s expedition wasn’t impressed. His contemporaries tended to describe the place using words like “wet”, '“dreary”, and “wilderness.” Thanks for the endorsement, friends of Mo.
Our name made us sound British. “Cleaveland” would’ve been seen as very proper and Old World—like something you’d see in Jane Austen. “Cleveland” is leaner, grittier, more American. Basically, we dropped a vowel and gained attitude.
Why It Works Anyway
✨ Cleveland might not have the sparkle of Paris or the suave of Rome, but our name has grit.
Plus, I’ve heard it rocks.
It’s one of those names that grew into itself—like how “The Rock” sounded silly until Dwayne Johnson made it iconic. 😆
Today, Cleveland isn’t about Moses Cleaveland at all. It’s about Lake Erie sunsets, the Guardians’ drumbeat, pierogis the size of your head, and a whole lot of hometown pride.
So the next time someone asks, “Who’s Cleve?” you can smile and say: some random guy from Connecticut who got here, looked around, and left. The real story of Cleveland isn’t about him—it’s about us.
Can you find the real Moses Cleaveland?
🤔 One of these is the real dude, the others are imposters.
Do you know which is which?
Don’t forget about this amazingly generous goodie from Wilson:
P.S. — Don’t miss your once-a-year chance to shop exclusively Ohio-made inside Northeast Ohio’s most iconic mansion. (Perfect for getting a head start on holiday gift shopping while supporting local artisans!)
Interested in reaching our Cleveland audience? We have tons of opportunities to get eyeballs on your biz. Click here to learn more | Click here to book a call with us