Notes app from 2018-2021

I removed iCloud from my LapTop a few weeks ago in Feb2022 to make more room on my computer. During this process it deleted all my "Notes" from 2018-2021 on the NotesApp. 

I don't believe I got an option to save them prior to this or to assure that they would not be removed.

 I am wondering why that was the only major removal of data from each app connected to iCloud. I'd like these Notes back because they have important account information that I use. 

I see that these notes 2018-2021 are on iCloud but was not able to copy and past them back onto my LapTop.