Surname Kleespieß - Meaning and Origin

Kleespieß: What does the surname Kleespieß mean?

The last name Kleespieß is believed to be an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word ‘Kleespiez’, meaning ‘small spade’. During the Middle Ages, Kleespieß was used as a common name for metal smiths, potters, and other tradesmen who used a small spade-like tool in their work. This tool was used to dig soil, and was common among potters who used it to mix clay and mould vessels.

The name is also found as an occupational surname in other countries, including Hungary and Slovakia. In countries such as the Netherlands, Kleespieß means ‘small spoon’ and is more commonly used to refer to a cook.

Kleespieß is a rare last name in most parts of the world. It is concentrated in south-eastern Germany and the neighbouring countries of Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, for whom this name is a familiar part of their history.

In these regions, the name has changed somewhat to different spellings and forms, such as Kleespies or Kleispieß, but the meaning is still the same. Today, the last name is popular among the descendants of people who used it centuries ago, although the number of people who bear this surname is relatively small.

Kleespieß: Where does the name Kleespieß come from?

The last name Kleespieß is most common in Germany today. This surname generally originates from a former hereditary office, often held by an individual in rural areas. In modern Germany, the surname is distributed across many German states, including the states of Bavaria, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia, and Saxony.

The name is largely concentrated in three regions within Germany. This includes North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Bavaria. In North Rhine-Westphalia, where around half of the German population resides, there is a relatively high frequency of this surname. This is particularly true in the Bergisches Land region of North Rhine-Westphalia. There is also a substantial presence of the Kleespieß name in Oldenburg, the capital of Lower Saxony.

The Kleespieß family also has a few members dispersed across the rest of Europe, as well as in North America and other continents. For instance, there are individual members with this surname in Denmark, France, Switzerland, and Sweden. The potential linkage of these individuals to those located in Germany is unknown. In North America, there are also individual members of the Kleespieß family in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Overall, however, the Kleespieß surname is primarily concentrated in Germany today. This is largely due to the historical presence of this surname in the country’s rural areas, perpetuated by generations of a single family.

Variations of the surname Kleespieß

The surname Kleespieß is primarily spelled with the double "s". However, there are other variations of this name that can be found in records, such as Kleepieß, Kleibs, Kleespieße, Klebs, Klebse, Kleepeße, Kleib, Kleepies, Kleepieß, Kleeb and Klipeß.

The surname Kleespieß has German origin and is the diminutive form of the noun Klippe – a cliff, meaning "son of the cliff." It can also have its roots in the personal name Klupp – a short form of Konradt. However, there is no clear consensus as to which is the actual origin.

The German variation of the name is usually rendered as Kleespießen or Kleespießer, while Dutch-speaking families hold names including Klepsie, Kleespie, Klepsi and Klepsies.

There are also variations of the name found in other countries such as Aufolia from Italy, Kleepeiss and Klepshis from Russia, Kleepieß from Austria, Kleipse from Belgium, Kleips from Germany, and Klepes from Hungary and Romania.

There are several variations of the spelling of the surname Kleespieß including Cleepies, Cleibs, Cleespie, Cleibse, Cleepiese, Cleib, Cleepies, and Cleepieß. All of the variations have the same origin and meaning.

All of the spelling variations of the surname trace back to the same origins and share similar meanings. While the double "s" spelling of Kleespieß is the most common version of the name, it is important to consider all of the different spellings as well as the surnames of similar origins when tracing ancestry.

Famous people with the name Kleespieß

• Sabrina Kleespieß: Sabrina is an Austrian YouTuber, blogger, and influencer sharply focused on fashion and beauty.
• Herb Kleespieß: Herb is an American celebrity photographer whose renowned work has been featured in many major magazines and publications.
• Max Kleespieß: Max is a German actor and musician best known for his distinct roles in the films Gojira, Season of the Witch: Reloaded and Winged Angels.
• Joanna Kleespieß: Joanna is a Swiss businesswoman specialising in the telecommunications sector, and a co-founder of the Eurovision Network.
• Christian Kleespieß: Christian is an Austrian chef and restaurateur, best known for his two-Michelin-starred eatery in Vienna.
• Leo Kleespieß: Leo is a German theater director, playwright, and theater critic whose work has been widely acclaimed.
• Corinna Kleespieß: Corinna is a German ice dancer and the 2004 German junior champion.
• Monika Kleespieß: Monika is an Austrian-born Canadian model whose work has been featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
• Jonas Kleespieß: Jonas is an Austrian-born American actor with roles in the films Inception and The Big Short.
• Christopher Kleespieß: Christopher is a German professional football player who plays for Hertha Berlin.

Other surnames

Kleespies