Surname Kläß - Meaning and Origin
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Kläß: What does the surname Kläß mean?
The last name Kläß is of German origin and has been found most commonly in the area of northern Germany along the East Frisian Coast. It is a variant of the name Klaus and thus is derived from the Germanic personal name ‘Klauss’. This name ultimately originated from the Latin ‘Claudius’, which meant “lame” or “crippled”. It is assumed that the name likely made its way to the Germanic region during the early settlement and expansion of the Roman Empire.
The surname Kläß likely descended from a family of traders, merchants, or merchants’ representatives, as it is common for such families to have a unique surname. The surname is also found in other parts of Europe, as well as the United States, through immigration.
In modern day Germany, Kläß remains a pretty common surname. It is associated with a long heritage of family, loyalty, and tradition. Folklore has it that the origins of the Kläß family are rooted in a long line of brave horsemen who defended their families and homes from many species of enemies.
Kläß families also often have an emphasis on education; they are known as being well-educated and having a deep interest in the customs, traditions, and language of their ancestors. A popular German nursery rhyme “Der kläß, der kläß, und der kläß Mensch, der ist mein bester Freund” (“The Kläß, the Kläß, and the Kläß man, he is my best friend”) also likely comes from a Kläß family’s tradition.
Overall, the surname Kläß is a proud and unique representation of German heritage, a testament to the proud Kläß families who have passed down the name from generation to generation and shared it with the world.
Order DNA origin analysisKläß: Where does the name Kläß come from?
The surname Kläß is common throughout Germany and much of Europe. However, the highest concentrations of this surname today are in the northern and eastern parts of Germany, as well as parts of Poland.
In Germany, the Kläß surname is most commonly found in the provinces of Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Thuringia, all of which were part of pre-WWII East Germany. Additionally, the surname can be found in western Poland's Greater Poland Voivodeship, the German-speaking Silesian provinces of Lower and Upper Silesia, and parts of Austria.
Overall, the Kläß surname is quite common in Germany and much of Europe today. Its highest concentrations can be found in northern and eastern Germany, as well as Poland and Austria.
Variations of the surname Kläß
Kläß is a German surname that has various spelling variants, such as Klass, Klaß, Claß, and Klassen. It is derived from the German word Klass, which means class or grade. In Germany, the name may be written with one “S” or two depending on the region.
Kläß is also a variant of the German surname Kleß, which is derived from the same root. Kleß is a somewhat uncommon name, typically found in small numbers in specific German regions. It is also found in different spelling variants, including Kless, Kleß, Klaß, Cless, Clear, Klesen, Klaesen, Cleß, and Klement.
Kläß and Kleß are also found as surnames on Dutch and Dutch-American records. In the Netherlands, the variant Claase is especially commonly found. The Dutch spelling variant Klaasse is also occasionally encountered.
Kläß is also a variant of the German name Klöß, which is derived from the word Klöppel, meaning bobbin or spool. Klöß is often found in East Prussia and other parts of eastern Germany and is infrequently encountered. The name is found in various spellings, such as Kloess, Kloß, Kloss, Kloeß, Klaß, Kloes, Klossen, Klößen, Klatt, Klett, Kleet, Klasse, and Klute.
In some cases, Kläß may be an Anglicized version of the Irish surname O’Loughlin or its variants. This name is derived from the old Gaelic personal name Lochlann, which originally meant ‘land of the lochs’ or ‘inhabitant of the loch’. Its spellings in Ireland include O’Loughlan, Loughlan, Loughlen, Loughlin, and McLaughlin.
Famous people with the name Kläß
- Marcus Kläß: German alpine skier and Olympic athlete
- Domenic Kläß: German footballer
- Johannes Kläß: German composer
- Martin Kläß: German footballer
- Dieter Kläß: German physicist and professor
- Lorenz Kläß: German ski jumper
- Gert Kläß: German modern pentathlete
- Michael Kläß: German Olympic champion
- Hans-Jörg Kläß: German shotputter and discus thrower
- Matthias Kläß: German bobsleigher
- Martin Kläß: German archer
- Tobias Kläß: German Paralympic athlete
- Jens Kläß: German actor
- Alfred Kläß: German sculptor and painter
- Michael Kläß: German airplane designer
- Alfred Kläß: German author and dramatist
- Hans Kläß: German football player
- Wilhelm Kläß: German chemist and professor
- Karl Kläß: German surgeon and professor
- Christoph Kläß: German professor and theologian