Surname Kleyman - Meaning and Origin

Kleyman: What does the surname Kleyman mean?

The last name Kleyman is a Jewish surname, originating from the Hebrew word “kolman” (כָּלְמָן) which translates to “clerk” or “scribe”. It is believed to have been adopted by Jews living in Eastern Europe during the 18th or 19th centuries – when significant Jewish migrations to the region were taking place.

The early bearers of the name Kleyman likely were professional scribes, bookkeepers or clerks in some capacity, accounting for the name’s roots in the Hebrew language. Alternatively, some may have taken on this surname to indicate their occupation. It’s also possible that, in the past, the name may have been adopted to hide or disguise a family’s original surname, usually for religious or political reasons.

Today, the surname Kleyman is most common among Jewish families around the world. In the United States, descendants of those who first took on the name Kleyman in Eastern Europe are the most numerous – particularly in California, New York and New Jersey.

Despite its Jewish origins, the name Kleyman isn’t limited to people of Jewish heritage, since it may have been adopted by people of other backgrounds as well. It’s even quite common among non-Jewish families in Russia, where the name has been used since the 19th century.

Kleyman: Where does the name Kleyman come from?

The surname Kleyman is an Ashkenazi Jewish name originating in Eastern Europe. Today, it is most commonly found in countries which have large Jewish populations, such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Israel. Additionally, the name is found in other countries with Jewish diaspora communities, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and France.

In Russia, the origin of Kleyman can be traced back to the 1600s. The name is most prevalent among families that settled in the region of Kiev and its surroundings. Kleyman is also a common family name in Ukraine, especially among the Jewish population.

In the United States, Kleyman is a fairly common name. According to records, there were 250 families living in the US with the surname in the year 1980. Today, the percentage of Americans with the surname Kleyman is higher than in 1980, with many of them having immigrated from Eastern Europe.

In Israel, the name Kleyman is common among the Jewish population, especially among those who immigrated from Russia.43 This is reflected in the fact that some of the youngest Israeli veterans bear the name Kleyman.

Overall, Kleyman is a very common last name today, especially among Jewish populations in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the US, and Israel.

Variations of the surname Kleyman

The surname Kleyman is derived from Kleimann, a Jewish topographic name for someone who lived near a clay or muddy area. While the surname is quite rare, it has a few spellings and recognizable variants:

Kleimann – The most common spelling of the surname Kleyman, Kleimann is an Ashkenazi Jewish topographic name for someone who lived in a clay or muddy area.

Kleinman – Another common spelling of Kleyman, Kleinman is an Ashkenazi Jewish patronymic name derived from the given name Kleim, or it may also have been derived as a metronymic form of Klein, meaning “small” in German.

Kleemann – A variant of Kleimann, this spelling of Kleyman is a Jewish topographic name for someone who lived near a clay or muddy area.

Kilimann – A variant spelling of Kleyman, this spelling is derived from the German word “kleim” meaning “glorious” and “mann” meaning “man.” It is also an Ashkenazi patronymic name for someone record anarchism

Kleinmann – Another variation of Kleyman, Kleinmann is a German name derived from the personal name Kleim, meaning “small” in German.

Kleiman – Another variant of Kleyman, Kleiman is an Ashkenazi Jewish patronymic name derived from the given name Kleim.

Klayman – An Anglicized version of Kleyman, Klayman is an Americanized adaptation of the surname.

Kleeman – Another variant of Kleyman, Kleeman is a German topographic name for someone who lived by a near a clay or muddy area.

Klaymann – Another variant of Kleyman, Klaymann is a German variation of the name that may have originated as an occupational name for a worker of clay or soil.

Kleemann – Yet another variant of Kleyman, Kleemann is Ashkenazi Jewish topographic name for someone who lived in a clay or muddy area.

Kleiman – A variant spelling of Kleyman, Kleiman is an Ashkenazi Jewish patronymic name derived from the given name Kleim.

Famous people with the name Kleyman

• Bill Kleyman: Bill is a technology futurist and chief technology officer at Virtustream. He is an award-winning cloud strategist, systems architect, and author with more than 25 years of technical experience.
• Charles Kleyman: Charles is a playwright and a professor of playwriting at New York University. He has written many critically acclaimed works and has had his plays performed both nationally and internationally.
• Jonas Kleyman: Jonas is a professional football player who plays for German club SV Rödinghausen. He has also represented both the senior and U-20 German national teams.
• Samantha Kleyman: Samantha is an actress and a producer who has acted in numerous television shows, films and stage plays. She is also the founder of the production company StoryLab which focuses on creating digital content.
• Tal Kleyman: Tal is an Israeli singer and songwriter known for his songs about Jewish identity. He has released several albums and played in several live shows in both Israel and abroad.
• Walter Kleyman: Walter was an Argentine psychologist, medical researcher and professor at the University of Buenos Aires. He was an active researcher in the field of psychiatry and authored several books.

Other surnames

Kleymann