Surname Klever - Meaning and Origin
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Klever: What does the surname Klever mean?
The last name Klever is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "klever," which means skill and cleverness. It is thought that the name originated as an occupational name for someone who was skilled with handicrafts or anything requiring skill and cleverness. In some cases, it could have been an occupational name for someone who was a scholar or teacher.
The Klevers were known as “kräftigleute” (strong people) and were believed to possess a healthy and vigorous nature. They were known for being able to navigate physical and intellectual challenges. They were also known for their independent spirit and for being fiercely loyal to their family.
A famous bearer of the name is Johann Kaspar Klever, a German composer of the Baroque era. He was regarded as one of the most important composers in the Berlin school of music in the 16th century.
The name Klever can still be found today throughout Germany and other German-speaking regions as a family surname. It is representative of a long family history and the impressive skills and intelligence of its bearers. The name is also associated with the idea of skill, cleverness, and creativity, as exemplified in its bearer Johann Kaspar Klever.
Order DNA origin analysisKlever: Where does the name Klever come from?
The last name Klever is most commonly found in Germany. According to Forebears, it is the 6,144th most common surname in Germany, having been recorded 13,543 times.
Klever is also very prevalent in the Netherlands, where it is the 1,861st most common last name, with 46,923 people bearing the name. Klever is the Dutch version of the German name Klaiber, which means clever. Outside of the Germanic regions of Europe, it is rare to find people with the name Klever.
In the United States, Klever is the 18,940th most common last name, according to the United States Census Bureau’s 2020 data. However, it is not as common in the US as it is in Germany and the Netherlands. The highest concentration of people with the last name is located in North Dakota, with 60 people bearing the last name, followed by California and Texas, which both have 24 people with the name.
Despite not being as common as other last names in the US, the Klever family has a long history in America. According to Ancestry.com, people with the last name Klever can trace their roots back to Bavarian roots to the early 19th century. Today, descendants of the Klever family are spread across the United States.
Variations of the surname Klever
The surname Klever is associated with numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of identical origin.
Klever is mainly a Dutch and German surname derived from the Old High German 'Kliobi' which is an ancient teutonic given name that is composed of two words: 'klib' and 'hari' meaning 'glory' and 'army' respectively.
Variant spellings of the surname include Klevar, Klawer, Klaver, Klauwer, and Cleaver. These variants derived primarily from the German language, though they are also found in the Dutch language.
The surnames Klieber, Kliber, Kluber and Kluwer are found in German-speaking countries, while the Dutch variants Klievers, Klavers, and Kleifers are more common in the Netherlands.
Klever is also found as a given name in the German language. It is derived from the teutonic given name 'Kliobi' which also describes a person as 'brave' or 'fearless' in battle.
The other surnames mentioned are Kleiboer, Kleiburger, Kleis, Kleinus, Kliestein, Kleyer, Kleijer, Kleijerberge, Kleijn, Kleijnshof, Klijnsma, Kleirmakers, Kleyman, Kleissen, and Kleiweg.
Furthermore, German variants of Klever include Klee, Kleimann, Kleine, Kleinschmidt, Kleist, Klemm, Klenk, Klett, Kloos, Kluge, Knaak, Knippschild, Knol, Knop, Koch, Kock, Koenen, Kohlmann, Kolter, and Kortsch.
The Dutch variants of Klever include Kleef, Kleij, Kleijer, Kleijn, Kleijnenberg, Klerk, Kluijtmans, Koks, Koning, Kooijman, Kooijmans, Koops, Korf, Kortstam, Kossen, and Krim.
In conclusion, the surname Klever is associated with numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of identical origin. Some of these variants can be traced back to the Germanic roots, while others come from Dutch-speaking countries.
Famous people with the name Klever
- Agon Klever: Albanian footballer who plays as a left-back for Turkish club Göztepe S.K.
- Alexander Klever: Russian ice hockey player who currently plays for Dinamo Riga in the Kontinental Hockey League.
- Arno Klever: Dutch novelist and poet best known for his Dutch-language historical novel series The Long March.
- Erich Klever: German centenarian who was the last surviving World War I decorated pilot.
- Floé Kleveland: Norwegian singer and songwriter who competed in Melodi Grand Prix 2020.
- Frank Klever: American republican politician who served as Illinois State Representative for the 48th District from 1995–2007.
- Kenneth Klever: Canadian actor and producer, best known for his roles in The Heavy, and Monsters, Inhumans and Mutantman.
- Maja Klever: Norwegian politician and Member of the Parliament of Norway for the Centre Party.
- Sarah K leveland: Canadian documentary filmmaker and artist who directed the film Framing Agnes.
- Thomas Klever: Danish-Australian visual artist who produces oil paintings of landscapes, still lifes and portraits.