Surname Klais - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Klais: What does the surname Klais mean?
The last name Klais is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "klise" meaning "lock-maker". It is believed to have referred to someone who crafted or worked with locks, such as a locksmith, a blacksmith, a builder, or a metalsmith. As such it could also be related to other occupational surnames such as Schlosser (locksmith), Schmied (blacksmith) and whatever the words for builders and metalsmiths were in medieval Germany.
The Klais surname is quite rare as it can only be found in select parts of Germany. As German immigrants moved into other countries such as the United States, other variations of the name, including Klise, Klaiss, and Klaas, were adopted.
The Klais name symbolizes a hardworking individual who put their skills to use in the most practical manner – that of crafting locks and other security devices. It can be assumed that the bearer of this name was likely well-respected for their contributions to early German society. Today, the Klais name continues to represent the strong work ethic, creativity and ingenuity necessary to craft locks or other security mechanisms. It is also an testament to the enterprising spirit of those who sought to make a better life for themselves and their loved ones, even across international borders.
Order DNA origin analysisKlais: Where does the name Klais come from?
The name Klais is quite a rare surname, though its origins remain uncertain. It is not found in records of the census in the United States, so it is likely to be an immigrant name.
In recent years, Klais has been found most frequently in Germany, especially in the states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria. Grimms Deutsches Worterbuch mentions Klais as being a German surname of the 16th century. It also has been recorded in some parts of France. In addition to Germany and France, Klais has also been found in Switzerland, Austria and Belgium.
Klais might be most prevalent in the Netherlands, where it is a common last name. It is likely to be of Dutch origin. The Dutch word 'Klais' or 'Klare' means pure, clear or clean, which gives a possible clue as to why it was chosen as a name in the Netherlands. The German variant of this name is 'Klauss'.
Klais is an uncommon surname, so it is hard to determine exactly how many people have it worldwide. That said, with its prevalence in Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, it is likely that there are a decent number of people who carry the Klais surname today.
Variations of the surname Klais
The surname Klais is a diminutive form of the Germanic name Klaus, which is derived from the word "kluoz," meaning "victory of the people."
Variants of the name Klais include Kleis, Kleiss, Klaiss, Klaesz, Klauß, Klauss, Clauss and Claesz. The surname can also appear under variants such as Klees and Kleese in Dutch, Klaas and Klase in Frisian, and Klaz and Klazz in Low German.
The surname has numerous spelling variations, including Klaiz, Klaisz, Clais, Claizs, Klays, Claeß, Kleiss, Klees, Klaß and Klaes.
In the United States, many people with the surname often spell it as "Clayes" or "Clayes". This spelling was most likely adopted due to immigration by many Germanic families in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The variants Clausing, Klausing, Klaussing and Klausse are also popular in some regions, which mainly originate from local and regional dialects as well as from the cultural influence of German immigrants.
Surnames of the same origin include Clasen, Klausen, Klusen, Klaußen, Clossen, Klossen, Klauser, Kleuser, Klausner, Klein, Kline, Kleinow, Kleinschmidt, and Claussen.
Overall, the names Klais and its variants have been strongly associated with Germanic origins for centuries, with many variations being used in various regions. For this reason, it contains many spellings and surnames of similar origin.
Famous people with the name Klais
- John Klais: an American soldier who fought in the Vietnam War, and the recipient of two Purple Hearts for his actions in combat.
- Marshall Klais: a professional hockey player who has competed in the NHL and several minor leagues.
- Robert Klais: a former music director for a broadcasting company in Wisconsin.
- Adolph Klais: a German opera singer who performed in the early twentieth century.
- Erich Klais: a former member of the German Air Force who served as an officer and pilot during World War II.
- Garry Klais: an Australian actor and executive producer who starred in films such as The Three Stooges and Sweet Dreams.
- Stefan Klais: a German sculptor who is known for his bronze works.
- Neil Klais: an American actor who has starred in films such as Boys Don't Cry and Navy Seals.
- Eugen Klais: a German composer and musicologist who specialised in organ and church music.
- Kurt Klais: a German political theorist and activist who wrote extensively on the politics of the Weimar Republic.