Surname Klepfer - Meaning and Origin
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Klepfer: What does the surname Klepfer mean?
The origins of the surname Klepfer are primarily German. It is derived from the Middle High German klufere which means potter or clay moulding worker. The first recorded spelling of the family name was in 1250 in Bavaria, when Adam der Klepfer was recorded.
The name Klepfer is believed to have originated from the northern area of Germany, near the Rhine region. It was common for small villages to have a potter as every household needs crockery, pots, and pans. A potter would have created these items in large numbers so a person holding this surname would have been someone who made their living from the creation of clay moulded items.
Klepfer is also an occupational surname, meaning that it originated when someone took on the job of a potter and used the occupational title as a way of distinguishing their family from others. People holding this surname can also trace their heritage back to the regions near the Rhine and Weser rivers, where the surname was especially common from the 12th to the 15th centuries.
Today, the surname Klepfer is still very much alive in areas of Germany and other parts of the world. It is common for families to continue to pass down the surname, often in cases of marriage or through adoption. It can also be anglicized as Klepper or Clapp.
Order DNA origin analysisKlepfer: Where does the name Klepfer come from?
The last name Klepfer is the anglicized version of the Germanic name Klepfmar, which is derived from the Middle High German klepf meaning "board". This surname is most commonly found in central and southwestern Germany. It is also found in some parts of Austria, Switzerland and Alsace. In the United States, the last name Klepfer can be found in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, and California–all of which have a significant German population.
It is possible to have a Klepfer ancestor if your family came from a part of Europe where the last name is most common, and then immigrated to the United States or another country. Records such as US census records and passenger lists from ships that brought immigrants to different countries can be used to determine if an ancestor came from Germany or Austria, and is likely to have had the Klepfer surname.
In Germany, people with the Klepfer surname are most commonly found in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. The majority of those living in these states have ancestral roots from the Palatinate, which is an area located on the western side of the German Rhineland. Consequently, many of the people living in these states can trace their ancestry back to the Klepfers who lived there and migrated in the 17th and 18th centuries.
To sum up, the last name Klepfer is mainly found in parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Alsace, as well as parts of the United States with a significant German population such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, and California. Records such as US census records and ship passenger lists can be used to determine if an ancestor had the Klepfer surname. In Germany, the surname is common in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, with many of these individuals having ancestral roots in the Palatinate region of western Germany.
Variations of the surname Klepfer
The surname Klepfer has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Kletz, Kletzner, Kletznerle, Kletznerlein, Kletner, Kletz, Kletzner, Klepp, Klepper, Klepfer, Klepfers, Kletznerlein, Kletnerlein, Klette, Klopfer, Klopfers and Kloepfer.
Klepfer is thought to have originated in southern Germany, most likely in Baden-Wurttemberg or Bavaria. The name is of occupational origin, derived from the German and Yiddish word ‘kleppen’ which means ‘to beat metal’, and so the name was likely borne by a blacksmith. The surname could also be derived from the Middle High German word ‘kleppen’ which means ‘to play a certain type of music on the clarinet’ and may have referred to a musician.
Klepfer is not a particularly common name and is most common in southern parts of Germany, particularly in the former states of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria. Variations of the name can still be found in Germany today, although it is not as common as it was in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
It is also possible that the name Klepfer may have spread to other countries, as German immigrants brought the name with them when they moved to other parts of Europe or to the United States. It is most likely that the name can be found in countries which have strong German-speaking communities.
In general, Klepfer is a relatively uncommon surname, with few people still bearing the name or variations of the name today. It is likely to have been more common in the past, when it was likely used by metalworkers and musicians.
Famous people with the name Klepfer
- Richard Klepfer (Olympic athlete and author)
- Dave Klepfer (American football coach)
- Juliana Klepfer (Youtuber and beauty influencer)
- Shelly Klepfer (professional poker player)
- Becky Klepfer (author and illustrator)
- Eric Klepfer (Olympic weightlifter)
- Bob Klepfer (professional golfer)
- Steve Klepfer (former Major League Baseball pitcher)
- Tom Klepfer (American sailboat racing champion)
- Christina Klepfer (classical recording artist)