Surname Kleifeld - Meaning and Origin

Kleifeld: What does the surname Kleifeld mean?

The last name Kleifeld is derived from the German language and is thought to have originated in the East Prussian regions of Germany. The surname is derived from the words “Kleif” meaning “clay” or “soil”, and “feld” meaning “field”. So, when combined, the two words would literally mean “clay field”, or “field of clay”. It is likely that the Kleifeld family were originally farmers who had land with a lot of clay-type soil, or had a field predominantly covered in clay-like soil. Such soil is notoriously difficult to cultivate, so the Kleifeld family would have been resilient and diligent in their work.

The first Kleifeld family were likely farmers in East Prussia who lived during a period of great political and human upheaval in Germany. This period of German history included wars, invasions and mass migrations, and the family name survived and spread throughout the country as people moved and settled in different parts of Germany. As East Prussia is now located on the border between Poland and Russia, it is likely that the Kleifeld family are descended from people who moved to the west of Germany during this period of upheaval.

The Kleifeld family name is still common in many parts of Germany today and can be a source of pride and connection to their German heritage. It is likely that the Kleifeld family would be associated with words like hard work, resilience, and perseverance, as well as the German values of integrity and loyalty.

Kleifeld: Where does the name Kleifeld come from?

The last name Kleifeld is most commonly found in Germany, where it ranks around 15,000 in terms of popularity. It is also found throughout Europe – particularly in Austria and Switzerland – as well as in the US, where it is most concentrated in the states of California, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

The origin of the name Kleifeld is uncertain but some believe it was adapted to describe someone who lived near a cleft in the land. It may have originated as a topographical or locational surname, used to describe someone from a certain geographical area.

In Germany, families with the surname Kleifeld can trace their ancestry to the Middle Ages. Records in the Deutsches Geschlechterbuch—a series of books containing information about noble families from different regions of Germany—show that the original seat of the family name is in Bavaria, specifically in the region of Lower Franconia (Unterfranken).

In the US, the Kleifeld name first appears in the 19th century in Texas. The Kleifeld family is likely of German Jewish descent and is likely to have immigrated before World War II.

Today, the Kleifeld family can be found in different parts of the world – from Mexico, Croatia, Israel, Australia, and Canada to the US, with members of the family scattered across all continents.

Variations of the surname Kleifeld

The surname Kleifeld is a German name originating from the Middle High German word for ‘cliff’. It has a variety of spellings, including Kleefield, Kleifield, Kleiffield, and Kleifieldt. Variants of the name are Kleyfeld, Kleyfield, Klyfeld, Klyfield, and Klyfeild.

Surnames deriving from the same root include Kleffen, Kleffenstahl, Kleve, Klieff, and Klifman. It is also related to the German surnames Klee and Kleef.

The earliest known records of the name date back to the 1400s; specifically, Hans Kleffen who was a respected worker from Hamburg, Germany in 1426. This name was likely derived from his profession or area of residence; either one of the many cliff formations located around the country, or a town called 'Klein-Kleefeld' in Lower Saxony.

The earliest known records of the Kleifeld variations of the name are from the 1600s in Wuppertal, Germany. The earliest documented instance was of the birth of Johannes Kleiffeld on the 15th of August, 1610.

Kleifeld is still a widely-used German surname today, and is the 134,876th most popular surname in the world. There are people bearing this name located all over the globe, but it is mostly found in Germany, Australia, Canada, the United States, and the UK.

Famous people with the name Kleifeld

• Ruth Kleifeld: A French rabbi and activist known for her work in the spheres of Jewish and women’s rights.
• Nikki Kleifeld: An American vocal coach and voiceover artist.
• Dave Kleifeld: An American actor known for his roles on television series such as The Soup, Friends, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
• Bruce Kleifeld: An American actor known for his roles in movies like Pursuit of Happiness and TV series like Criminal Minds.
• Nikto Kleifeld: A fictional character from the Marvel Universe.
• Ira Kleifeld: An American civil rights lawyer and former Dean of the Tulane Law School.
• Mara Kleifeld: An Israeli singer and songwriter.
• Natalie Kleifeld: A Yugoslavian poet and artist.
• Oren Kleifeld: An Israeli scientist and entrepreneur known for developing the world's first passwordless authentication system.
• Sylvia Kleifeld: An American author and freelance writer.

Other surnames

Kleifeldt