Surname Klaeßen - Meaning and Origin

Klaeßen: What does the surname Klaeßen mean?

The last name Klaeßen is a German surname derived from the Old High German word ‘claes’, meaning ‘clay’ or ‘mud’. The name is thought to have originated from some ancestral occupational title, primarily referring to a potter or someone who worked with clay and mud. Variations of the name can include Claesson, Classen, Klausen, Kleissen, Klassen, and Klaessen.

The name was likely first recorded in the area of what is now modern Germany between the 13th and 16th centuries, when the area was part of the Holy Roman Empire. The first recorded variant of the name was found in the area of the city of Hamburg, dates prior to 1550. On occasion the spelling of the surname would be modified with whatever language was being spoken at the time of record taking, hence the variations of the spelling which can still be seen today.

The name spread deemly across Europe, with large numbers of individuals bearing the name found in parts of Germany, Scandinavia, and northern areas of the Netherlands and Belgium. The Klaeßen surname is a classic example of the kind of surname that popularly evolved from a single trade or occupational reference to represent a family name.

Klaeßen: Where does the name Klaeßen come from?

The last name Klaeßen is a common German surname originating from the Middle Ages. It is most commonly found in the northern states of Germany, with the largest concentrations of the name in the state of Lower Saxony, particularly in the districts of Lüneburg, Uelzen, Gifhorn, and Soltau-Fallingbostel. It is also commonly found in the cities of Hamburg, Bremen, and Hanover.

Klaeßen is also commonly found in the Netherlands, particularly in the Dutch provinces of Groningen, Overijssel, and Friesland, which were historically part of the German region known as East Frisia. Additionally, the name can be found in Belgium, particularly in the provinces of Limburg and Flemish Brabant.

Outside of Europe, Klaeßen is found in many countries across the globe, with significant concentrations of the name in the United States, Argentina, and Brazil, as well as in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, the last name is especially concentrated in the states of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, reflecting the states’ predominantly German-American heritage.

Overall, Klaeßen is a fairly common last name today, with concentrations of the name especially noticeable in northern Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and among the German-American population of the United States.

Variations of the surname Klaeßen

Klaeβen is a German surname of multiple variants and spellings. Common variants of Klaeßen include Kläßen, Klassen, Clause, Classe, Classes, Claessen, Claeβen, Claesen, Claessen, Klausen, and Claussen. These surnames can all be traced back to the Netherlandish form Classe or Claes, a vernacular form of the Latin name Nicolaus. The original form of the name can be traced back to the Greek name Nikolaos, which means “victor of the people”.

The variants of the surname range from the more common versions found in Germany, Claessen and Claesen, to the rarer versions mentioned previously. Other variants such as Klausen and Claussen are typically found in various German speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The surname also has a few additional spellings and variants such as Klaese, Klaess, Klassen, Klassmann, and Klaßmann. These variants are mostly found in the German speaking countries. The additional spellings of the surname can also be found in Dutch regions such as the Netherlands and Belgium.

In Germany and other German speaking countries, the surname has come to be associated with the occupation of miller. It is believed that the surname Klaeßen and its variants originated as a name used to describe a Miller or mill workers. As with other traditional German surnames, it is likely that Klaeßen was adopted as a surname when surnames first became popular in Medieval Europe.

Regardless of the history and spelling of the surname, Klaeßen is a Germanic surname with multiple variants and spellings. The multiple spellings of the surname may reflect regional linguistics or changes in spelling over time.

Famous people with the name Klaeßen

• Jan Klaeßen: a German actor best known for his roles in The White Ribbon and The German Friend.
• Anna Klaeßen: a German actress, dancer and choreographer, best known for her roles in The Miracle of Bern and Four Minutes.
• Louise Klaeßen: a German theater actress, best known for her role in the play The Wild Duck.
• Carl Klaeßen: a Swiss painter and graphic artist, best known for his works in the field of natural representation.
• Hans Klaeßen: a German historian and professor, best known for his studies of modern history and biographic fiction.
• Hugo Klaeßen: a German composer, music theorist and musicologist, best known for his works on theory of renaissance and baroque music.
• Alexander Klaeßen: a German actor and theatre director, best known for his work in the world of improvisation theatre.
• Wilhelm Klaeßen: a German politician, best known for being the Minister of Finance of the Free State of Thuringia from 1928 to 1933.
• Peter Klaeßen: a German sculptor, best known for his bronze and stone sculptures.
• Max Klaeßen: a German actor, best known for his role in the TV series Colonia Dignidad.

Other surnames

Klaeßens