Surname Klage - Meaning and Origin
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Klage: What does the surname Klage mean?
The last name Klage is a Germanic name with several possible meanings.
Klage comes from the German word "klagen," which means to complain or to lament. It could thus be indicative of someone who was known for their complaints or was habitually sad.
Another possible interpretation of the surname comes from the German words "Klaag" or "Kling," which both mean "cry" or "yell," respectively. In this case, a person with this surname might have originated from a noisy or rowdy family.
Still another possibility is that Klage derives from a German word or phrase meaning "rock," given the prevalence of this iconic symbol in German heraldry and coats of arms. This could suggest a person of stony resolve.
Given its multiple interpretations, anyone with the last name Klage is likely descended from a range of diverse ancestors. All of them, however, likely had one thing in common: an indomitable spirit.
Order DNA origin analysisKlage: Where does the name Klage come from?
The last name Klage is primarily found in Germany, meaning the vast majority of people bearing the name are of German descent. However, with the rise in immigration, it’s very likely the name can be found in other countries around the world. For instance, members of the Klage family can be found among the German-American immigrant communities of the United States, as well as countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The surname Klage is believed to have originated from Middle High German, when the name denoted a kind of folk music, rather than referring to a particular family. According to the 1990 United States Census, the last name is the 23,027th most common name in the country, and is estimated to appear in approximately 0.001 percent of the population.
In Germany, the surname Klage is especially common in Saxony, located in the eastern most region of the country. It is also seen in good numbers in the states of Bavaria and Saarland. According to the German telephone directory, some 500 people with the surname Klage are currently living in the country. This makes it somewhat rare for a German family name, with an estimated one Klage for every 100,000 people living in Germany.
Variations of the surname Klage
The surname Klage is a German occupational name for a person who is a crier or public announcer of laws, regulations and pleas. Variants and spellings of this surname include Klegg, Klages, Klagg, Klagge, Klagges, Klaught and Klote. The Old High German form of the name is Chlanc, and its Middle High German form is Clanc.
The usage of the variations of the surname Klage is primarily found in Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Brazil, Lithuania and Poland. The surname has even spread to neighboring countries including Hungary, Slovenia and Austria.
The Klegg form of the surname came from the area near the Prussian-Lithuanian border. It is a variant of the surname Klage that is primarily found in East Prussia and is recorded in church records even as early as 1690. The Klages form of the surname most likely originates from Germany, and is primarily found in Northrhine Westphalia.
The surname Klagg is a German variant primarily found in Prussia. It is a patronymic name for a son of someone with the surname Klagge. The Klagge and Klagges forms of this surname were both variations of Klegg, and they can be found in Bavaria, Prussia, and Silesia.
The Klaught form of the surname is primarily found in Germany, Poland, and Lithuania and is of Slavic origin. This surname is also found in other parts of Europe. The Klote surname most likely originated in Germany and is recorded in church records as early as 1698. It is also found in Russia and Poland.
Famous people with the name Klage
- Dick Klage: Former American professional baseball player.
- Rudy Klage: Former German professional football player.
- Henry Klage: American progressive educator.
- Charles Klage: American baseball pitcher.
- Richard Klage: Former American professional football player.
- Lyle Klage: Former American professional baseball player.
- Harold Klage: American aeronautical engineer and designer.
- Petar Klage: Croatian physicist and professor who received the Order of Danica Hrvatska.
- Oscar Klage: U.S. Air Force major general who served as Commander of the Air Defense Command.
- Woody Klage: Austrian equestrian who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.