Surname Klei - Meaning and Origin
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Klei: What does the surname Klei mean?
The last name Klei is believed to be of Jewish origin, though there is little clarity on its exact origin. It is thought that the name Klei originated in the Hebrew language, and could be derived from the word “kaleh” meaning “voice” or “assembly”. Alternatively, the name could have come from the Jewish name “Kaplan” meaning “priest”.
The Klei family was well known throughout Europe. It is unknown when the family first started using this name, but it is thought to have been between the 16th and 19th centuries. During this time, the family likely originated from Eastern Europe, possibly Belarus. The Klei name can also be found in parts of Russia, Germany, and even in the United States.
It is believed that the Klei name may have also been related to a specific geographic area or town, or could have referred to a family that lived in a particular area. Though there is not enough evidence to prove this, it is a possibility.
Whatever its origins, the Klei name is now widely known and is used as a proud identifier by many families. This name now carries a sense of history, with families proud to trace their ancestry and passed-down heritage through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKlei: Where does the name Klei come from?
The last name Klei is a Jewish-Slovak surname that is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe. It is particularly common in countries such as Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, and Poland. It is also known to be found in parts of Russia, Belarus, and Romania.
The surname Klei is thought to have derived from the place name Klei, which was located in central Slovakia near Krupina. This place name referred to a local hill called Kleisberg, which is located on the banks of the River Hornád.
In some instances, the name Klei is derived from Germanic, Czech, and Slovak words for “green, wooded valley,” “wood circumference,” and “wooden hillock.” It is also thought that this surname may be derived from the older Germanic root “Klu” or “Klock” (meaning round as a clock).
The Klei family was historically associated with the nobility, and many of them served as mayors, mayors of the cities, mayors of the castles and other local government offices. Today, the Klei family is still a relatively prominent one in Central and Eastern Europe, although it is not known to be as widespread as it once was. It is still common in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, and Poland. Additionally, it can also be found in parts of Russia, Belarus, and Romania.
Variations of the surname Klei
The surname Klei is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname originating from Eastern Europe. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Kleiner, Klein, Kleinerwitz, Kleinerweiss, Kleinerarry, Kleco, Klee, Clei, Kli, Kly, Kla, Kleementer, Kliewer, Kleppner, Klopper, Klett, Kleuker, Klivatz, Klebanov, Kalinov, Kleidorfer, Kliz, Kleiman, Kliment, Klint, Klyar, Kleiner-Müller, Kleinerfeld, Kleist and Kleyner.
Klei is derived from the German word for “small” or “little” and was often applied to people who were of smaller physical stature. The alternative spellings of Klei show the changing of original German word, e.g. Kleiner or Klein, with other phonetic variations. Many of the surnames mentioned also have their own distinctive meanings, such as Kleco, deriving from the name of a town in Poland, Klint from a settlement in Lithuania or Klyar from the Russian word for “clear.”
The surnames mentioned all have a common origin and share the same bearers. For example, somebody descended from a family called Klei may also have distant relatives called Klein. Similarly, a person named Kleinernard or Kleinerwitz is likely to share the same family line as someone with the surname Kleclose, Kliz or Kleist. The surnames also occur in a variety of countries due to high levels of mobility, which resulted in many Jews migrating throughout Europe during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Famous people with the name Klei
- Jeff Klei: Canadian voice actor and broadcaster.
- Kelli Klei: Professional makeup artist who has worked with stars such as Dierks Bentley, Jennifer Lawrence, and Demi Lovato.
- Elizabeth Klei: Canadian singer-songwriter, best known for her single "Someone to Love".
- Lauren Klei: Canadian musical theater actress, featured in "The Rocky Horror Show" at the Stratford Festival, and "Daddy Long Legs" at Theater Calgary.
- Marika Klei: Danish recording artist, known for her album "Long Journey Home" and her single "Beating Like a Drum".
- Eyvind Klei: Norwegian cross-country skier who competed in the 1968 and 1972 Winter Olympics.
- Frits Klei: Dutch politician, member of the Christian Democratic Appeal and former mayor of Midden-Groningen.
- Kees Klei: Dutch painter, winner of theadinglike a Drum".
- Herman Klei: Dutch columnist who wrote for "De Leidse Courant" and "Algemeen Handelsblad".
- Francina Klei: Dutch actress, best known for her role on Dutch television show "Borgen".