Surname Kleefisch - Meaning and Origin
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Kleefisch: What does the surname Kleefisch mean?
The last name Kleefisch is German in origin and likely derived from the word "Klee" meaning "clover." This suggests that the surname was historically associated with someone whose occupation involved harvesting clover or with the landscape that such an activity may have taken place in. The -isch suffix is common in German surnames and indicates either a relation to a place, associated with a social or economic class, or a trade or occupation.
Other interpretations of the name Kleefisch involve someone who may have come from the area known as Kleefeld located in the district of Pinneberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Kleefeld is most likely derived from the Middle High German words "Kleo" and "veldt" which essentially mean clover field.
In addition to its use as a surname, the word Kleefisch may be roughly translated to "cloverfish," potentially referring to a species of round fish that lives in shallow waters, or to a particular fishing technique involving the use of clover shaped nets.
No matter where the surname originated, it's safe to say it's deeply rooted in German culture and is symbolic of nature and fishing technique, suggesting that its original holders valued the environment and the source of their livelihood.
Order DNA origin analysisKleefisch: Where does the name Kleefisch come from?
The last name Kleefisch can be found throughout Germany and other German-speaking countries today. It is likely that the name has its origins in the Middle Ages when people used to identify themselves and their families with the lands and regions they lived in. Kleefisch is likely derived from the German word "Kleefeld" which means a "clover field". This is evidenced through the use of suffixes such as "feld" meaning field that are commonly used in German surnames.
The name is quite rare outside of German-speaking countries, however, with the highest concentration seen in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which is also the most populous state in Germany, followed by Bavaria. There are small concentrations of the Kleefisch name located in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria.
The name is most commonly associated with individuals and families of German decent, however, over the centuries there has been some migrations and spread of the name to other parts of the world, especially the United States. In the US, there are significant concentrations of the Kleefisch family name in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, and California as well as in some of the smaller states such as North Dakota.
In general, the Kleefisch family name is a rather rare one compared to other German surnames, however there is a fairly solid presence of it in German-speaking countries and those of German descent in the US.
Variations of the surname Kleefisch
Kleefisch is a German surname derived from the Middle High German words, ‘clef’ and ‘isch’ meaning ‘glue’ and ‘person’. The most commonly used variations and spellings of this surname include Kleefeld, Kleffisch, Kleeffisch, Kleeves, Klefisch, Kliwisch, Klyfisch, Clifisch, and Cliffisch.
Kleefisch is an uncommon surname and is mainly found among the citizens in Germany. This is because the descendants of the historic surname still reside in Germany and other German-speaking territories. In addition, some members of this family have moved to different parts of the world throughout history, particularly during World War II.
Alternative surnames of the same origins have surfaced as well, such as Kleiss, Kleffmann, Klefmann, Klefmans, Kleeham, Kleefson, and Klefson. This is due to different origins and languages and subsequent variations of the spelling. Since many of these different spellings come from different backgrounds, there are numerous variations; all related to the same origin.
In short, the surname Kleefisch has multiple variations and spellings in German and other languages. Some of the common spellings related to this surname are Kleefeld, Kleffisch, Kleeffisch, Kleeves, Klefisch, Kliwisch, Klyfisch, Clifisch and Cliffisch. It also has alternative surnames of the origin, such as Kleiss, Kleffmann, Klefmann, Klefmans, Kleeham, Kleefson, and Klefson.
Famous people with the name Kleefisch
- Rebecca Kleefisch: Wisconsin's 45th Lieutenant Governor
- Robyn Vining: Former Wisconsin State Representative
- Le Roy A. Kleefisch: Commissioner of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture
- Ute Kleefisch: German radio journalist
- W. Richard Kleefisch: U.S. diplomat
- Rodney Kleefisch: Wisconsin Assemblyman (2012-2016)
- Albert Kleefisch: Former Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker
- Todd J. Kleefisch: U.S. politician from Wisconsin
- Richard Kleefisch: Wyoming State Representative
- Elaina Kleefisch: Former Wisconsin school board member