Surname Klima - Meaning and Origin
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Klima: What does the surname Klima mean?
Klima is a surname of Slavic origin which is found in various forms in countries such as the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Slovakia. It is derived from the word klima, meaning “climate” or “season”. The name likely arose from the names of agricultural and climatic sites where families resided.
Klima is also found as a surname in other countries, such as Germany, Hungary, and Latvia. Its spelling variations in other countries include Klyma, Klimm, Klimchak, and Klymko. In Slovenia, the surname is found in both Klima and Klimek forms.
The German form of Klima is Klimm, derived from klein, meaning “small”. This form of the name is often associated with the small village of Klimm, located near towns such as Daun and Wassenberg. In Hungary, Klima is the older spelling of the surname, while Klimó is used as the modern spelling.
The original form of the surname may have been a diminutive form of clima, the Latin word for “weather” or “season”. This surname is often found among members of Polish, Ukrainian, Jewish, Czech, and Russian families in Eastern Europe. It is believed that the name arose independently among different ethnic groups.
The use of the Klima surname is widespread, though it is not as common as Klimov, which is the Russian form of the name. Some Klimas were also found as rulers of the princely house of the same name in the early part of the twentieth century in the United States and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisKlima: Where does the name Klima come from?
The last name Klima is most common in Central and Eastern European countries. It is especially prevalent in Poland, Slovakia, and Czech Republic. It also appears in smaller numbers in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and parts of Ukraine. In the United States, the last name is most common in states with a large Polish and Central European population, such as Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The exact etymology of the last name Klima is uncertain; some sources point to its origin being the Slavic word "klima" which means 'climate'. This could imply that the first person bearing this surname was living in a specific climate or region, and the surname then stuck with the members of that family.
The last name Klima is also found in various other countries around the world, though usually in small numbers. This could be the result of members of this family having emigrated from Europe to the United States, Australia, and other countries. It is possible that the last name has taken on different spellings and pronunciations in the countries that it is found, as a result of language and dialects.
The last name Klima is still common today in many Central and Eastern European countries. The descendants of those who have the last name are typically proud of this heritage, and often pass it down through the generations.
Variations of the surname Klima
Klima is a surname of Slavic origin with several variants and spellings, including Klyma, Klim, Klym, Klimovich, Klymovich, Klimov, Klymov, Klímov, Klimenko, Klymenko, Klieman, Kleiman and Kleimann.
The main root of this surname originates from the word “Klъm”, which is an old Slavic word indicating “mountain”. It was used as a first or last name to indicate a characteristic of a person related to a mountain environment, meaning someone living or working in the mountains or having a talent for mountain-related activities.
Klima is a very common name in Central and Eastern Europe including Ukraine, Russia, Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland. In Ukraine, the surname Klima is often spelled Kyma. In Russia, it is common to find Klima spelled as Klъma, Kluma or Klum.
This surname can be used as a patronymic (the father’s first name plus the suffix -vich or -ovich) or a given name (nickname). For example, Klimovich would be derived from the first name Klim, whereas Klim would be a given name (nickname) for someone bearing the surname Klima.
In some instances, the surname Klima has also been recorded in the United States. In this case, it is generally derived from the German spelling Kleimann, which also originates from the old Slavic word “Klъm”.
Famous people with the name Klima
- Vaclav Klima: Vaclav Klima is a former Czech Prime Minister who held the position from 1997-1998. He was a leader in the Civic Democratic Party, and served in the Czech Lower House of Parliament.
- Fred Klima: Fred Klima is a former National Football League player for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was an offensive guard who also played briefly with the Broncos and Browns.
- Jan Klima: Jan Klima is the current Czech Minister of Defense, having been appointed by the Czech government in 2017.
- John Klima: John Klima is an American author, editor, and publisher who runs the independent publishing house Electric Works Press. He is known for his work on the Hugo Award-winning short story collection Logorrhea.
- Alice Klima: Alice Klima is an American artist who works in acrylics, oil, and digital art. Her work typically explores the relationship between nature and the landscape.
- Mike Klima: Mike Klima is a professional wakeboarder from the US. He has several titles to his name, including the "Rookie of the Year" award and "Pro Wakeboarder of the Year" award in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
- Zdena Klima: Zdena Klima is a Czech poet and a recipient of the Jaroslav Seifert Prize. Her poetic oeuvre reflects on both the beauty and fragility of the human condition, inspired by both classical and post-modern writing.
- Monty Klima: Monty Klima is an American actor and producer, best known for his work in the films The Barkley's and The Promise Keepers. He also starred in the television series 2020 and Vicky and Leo.