Surname Kleberg - Meaning and Origin

Kleberg: What does the surname Kleberg mean?

The last name Kleberg is of German origin and is thought to be derived from "kleine Berg," which translates to "small mountain" in English. It is believed that the original bearer of this surname lived in a hilly area, and thus the name refers to that geographical feature.

The German word "berg" is associated with words like mountain, hill, and cliff, and implies a connection to nature and a strong work ethic. The Kleberg family is believed to have originated from northern Bavaria and was once associated with the farming and winemaking trade. The family, though, is not restricted to certain occupations, as there has been a strong presence of Klebergs in the professional arena, such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, and business owners.

The Kleberg surname is an example of a habitational name, much like that of many other German surnames. Such surnames are derived from a geographical feature in the family's past and can generally be identified as such by the prefix "O". In this case, the prefix is "Kle" for the locale of Kleineberg. It is a testament to the family’s long standing history with a certain location in Germany.

Overall, the surname Kleberg is an historical testament to the family's origins from northern Bavaria and their strong connection to the land. Despite its old-world origins, the Kleberg surname has no been a great source of pride to its many bearers across the world.

Kleberg: Where does the name Kleberg come from?

The last name Kleberg is most commonly found in the United States today, particularly in California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and New York. The name is also seen in small numbers in several other states including Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

One of the most famous people who bore the name was Robert Justus Kleberg, Jr., an American rancher and philanthropist from Texas. He was part of the famous King Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the world. Beyond his ranching endeavors, Kleberg was also actively involved in politics, having served as a Texas state representative and been appointed to the US Senate for a brief period. He also founded the King Ranch Institute for ranch management, seldomly seen until today.

The name Kleberg has a distant origin in Germany, where there are several towns and villages bearing the same name. The earliest known member of the Kleberg family is Jurg Samen Kleberg, who was born in 1518 in what is now Germany. The Lipizzaner stallions, which are bred at the Spanish Riding School, are also descended from the Kleberg line of horses.

The Kleberg family is still prominent today in the Americas, as there are several prominent individuals who still bear the name. While the name is not extremely common, it is still well-known due to its association with the famous King Ranch in Texas, and many of the Klebergs from the original family are still alive and active today.

Variations of the surname Kleberg

The surname Kleberg is of German origin and derived from “Kleeberg”, which means “cloverhill”. Its various variants, spellings, and surnames include:

Kleiberg: This is the German spelling of the surname and is believed to have originated in Germany. Its variant spellings include Kleyberg, Kleeberg, Klieberg, and Klienberg.

Kleberg-König: This is another form of the Kleberg surname which originated in Germany.

Klebergs: This is a Dutch variant of the Kleberg surname and is believed to have originated in the Netherlands. It is also sometimes spelled as Kleibers.

Kleborgh: This is a Dutch patronymic surname derived from the Kleberg surname.

Kleiborg: This is a variant spelling of the Kleberg surname.

Klier: This is an alternative, Dutch spelling of the Kleberg surname.

Klinger: This is another form of the Kleberg surname which originated in Germany.

Klinker: This is a variant spelling of the Kleberg surname.

Klempner: This is a German version of the Kleberg surname.

Klepacz: This is a variant spelling of the Kleberg surname and is most commonly found in the Czech Republic.

Klerberg: This is a variant spelling of the Kleberg surname found in Sweden.

Kleper: This is a variant form of the Kleberg surname found in Poland.

Klepinger: This is another variant spelling of the Kleberg surname and is most commonly found in Austria.

Klews: This is a Swedish version of the Kleberg surname.

Klievings: This is a variant spelling of the Kleberg surname found in the Netherlands.

Klinner: This is an older variant spelling of the Kleberg surname.

Klieber: This is an alternative spelling of the Kleberg surname found in Austria.

Klieforth: This is a variant form of the Kleberg surname found in Germany.

Klimberger: This is another variant spelling of the Kleberg surname and is most commonly found in Austria.

Klink: This is a variation of the Kleberg surname found in Germany.

Kluck: This is the German spelling of the Kleberg surname.

Klepan: This is a variant form of the Kleberg surname and is most commonly found in Croatia.

Kliphausen: This is a Dutch version of the Kleberg surname.

Famous people with the name Kleberg

• Richard Kleberg Jr.: an American attorney from Texas and the son of former Congressman Richard Kleberg Sr. He also served as a State Representative and became the first Republican leader of the Texas House of Representatives.
• Robert Kleberg Jr.: the grandson of Richard Kleberg Sr. and the son of Robert Kleberg Jr. He was a long-time rancher and businessman and served as a director of the International Bank in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was the founder of the King Ranch which is the largest ranch in Texas today.
• Allegra Kleberg: the youngest daughter of Robert Kleberg Jr. and a prominent philanthropist who made large donations to the Kleberg Biology Research Institute and the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
• Henry Kleberg: a United States Army major general who served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
• Raymund P. Kleberg: a United States congressman from the 14th Congressional district of Texas in 1920.
• Adolph Kleberg: the father of Richard Kleberg Sr. and a former Alderman of Corpus Christi, Texas. He was a large landowner and became a notable figure in the city politics.
• Richard Nixon Kleberg: a United States Congressman from Corpus Christi, Texas from 1956-1967.
• Rebecca Kleberg: the daughter of Richard Kleberg Jr. and a notable horse breeder.
• Amy Kleberg Brown: a philanthropist from Texas and the granddaughter of Richard Kleberg Sr. She is the daughter of Robert Kleberg Jr.
• Kimberly Kleberg: the daughter of Robert Kleberg Jr. and the wife of former Texas state legislator Dan Shelley.

Other surnames

KleberKlebergerKlebertKlebes