Surname Kleiss - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kleiss: What does the surname Kleiss mean?
The surname Kleiss is a German and Dutch occupational name, derived from either the word ‘Klei’, meaning clay, or the Middle High German ‘kleyssen’, meaning ‘to form’. It originated as a name to describe either a potter or a sculptor whose profession involved the forming and moulding of clay or stone. The name was commonly found as 'Kleiß', 'Kleissen', 'Kleyssen', 'Kleys', 'Kles' or 'Kleiss'.
In Germany, 'Kleiß' was a popular occupational surname in the Middle Ages, particularly among those who lived in the Rheinland and the Franconian region of Bavaria. By the 19th century, the surname was found throughout Germany and beyond.
The prevalence of the name is also linked to religious freedom in Europe as the name was adopted by immigrants who had escaped religious persecution. The Kleiss families from Bavaria, Württemburg, Baden and the Palatinate region settled in Holland, Prussia, Russia, the United States, Canada and South America.
The name Kleiss has inspired many variations and nicknames related the word ‘clay’, such as Kleiser, Kleißner, Kleissner, Kleyss, Klysz, Kloos and Kloess. Today, the surname Kleiss is mostly found in the Netherlands, Germany and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisKleiss: Where does the name Kleiss come from?
The last name Kleiss is most common today in Germany, Austria, and South Africa. In Germany, Kleiss is the 917th most common last name, with 9,607 people carrying the name. In Austria, it is the 1,625th most popular last name, with 3,171 people using it. In South Africa, Kleiss is the 2,651st most popular last name, with 635 people using the name.
Given its German and Austrian roots, it is likely that the last name Kleiss originated from a Germanic language. The meaning of the name is unknown. There are records of people with the last name in the Czech Republic and Hungary, however, it is not as common as in Germany and Austria.
The Kleiss family is especially prominent in the state of Bavaria, Germany. At least one coat of arms has been identified in connection to the last name. It consists of a black shield, divided by a silver and gold striped pattern, and a red castle on the top. One can also find variants of the last name, including McCullen and Maclean, which suggest locations in Scotland and Ireland for the origin of the family.
In the United States, there are records of Kleiss family members dating back to the 1700s. Since then, the name has spread across the country with more than 7,000 people with the last name in the United States today.
Variations of the surname Kleiss
The surname Kleiss has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The name comes from the Old High German word “klizze”, which means a sharp sword. It was a common occupational name for a blacksmith or a maker of swords.
The most common variants of the surname Kleiss include Kless, Kles, Klesseder, Kleser, Kleisser, and Kliss. These variants mainly originated from western Germany and the Netherlands, where the language was more heavily Germanic in nature.
The spelling variations of Kleiss are also numerous. Some of these alternate spellings include Cleiss, Klies, Kleis, Kliess, Kless, Kleiss, Kleish, Kloos, and Kluse. Many of these variations were adopted by people who emigrated from Germany and other parts of Europe to North America or Australia in the 1800s.
Other surnames of similar origin include Klessinger, Klessmann, Kliest, Kliesing, Klish, Klishman, Klishe, and Kloes. These surnames are mostly found in Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
The Kleiss surname is also sometimes spelled with a double "s" in the middle. This variant is found more often in the United States and Canada.
Overall, the surname Kleiss has a wide array of variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. These variations are usually explained by the various migrations that people have gone through and the different languages and dialects that were spoken in the countries they originated from.
Famous people with the name Kleiss
- Michael Kleiss: German footballer
- Nina Kleiss: German handball player
- Hebisto Kleiss: Greek sculptor
- John Kleiss: American basketball coach
- Heinz Kleiss: German businessman
- Bart Kleiss: Dutch philosopher
- Erik Kleiss: Dutch elaborator
- Peter Kleiss: Austrian politician
- Alexander Kleiss: German mathematician
- Natalja Kleiss: Russian track and field athlete
- Marianne Kleiss: Dutch author
- Jorg Kleiss: German drummer
- Bernard Kleiss: German opera singer
- Carole Kleiss: French opera singer
- Krijn Kleiss: Dutch criminal
- Bob Kleiss: American musician
- Henk Kleiss: Dutch cartoonist
- Elias Kleiss: German photographic artist
- Boudewijn Kleiss: Dutch landscape architect
- Jan Kleiss: Dutch fitness coach