Surname Klopstock - Meaning and Origin
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Klopstock: What does the surname Klopstock mean?
The last name Klopstock is a German name derived from the Low German word “kloppstok” meaning club or staff. It is the occupational name for a marshal or messenger, someone whose job it was to carry a staff and make certain announcements or orders, usually in connection with a ruler or lord.
The earliest known recording of this name is in the published family tree of Elisabeth Rolof from Coppenbrügge, which dates back to the 16th century. It is likely that this name originated in the region of Saxony-Anhalt.
The name is more strongly associated today with famous German poet, Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, who was born in the 18th century. His work is often credited with reviving German literature and his poem, "The Messiah", is still read widely today.
Today the name is still mainly found in Germany, although with the growth of international communication and travel, there are also some individuals with the name living in other parts of the world.
In any case, the name Klopstock still carries with it a sense of history and accomplishment, as well as an appreciation for literature and its many great voices.
Order DNA origin analysisKlopstock: Where does the name Klopstock come from?
Klopstock is a surname of German origin and is believed to have originated in the Silesian region of Germany. Today, the surname is still found in various parts of Germany, particularly around the former Silesian area. It can also be found in other parts of Germany and some parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Depending on where family members migrated to, the surname can also be found in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The surname is derived from the German word ‘Klopfe’ which means ‘to knock/strike’ and was first used as a nickname. Like many other German surnames, it was usually used to describe a person’s profession or physical characteristics. For example, a person with a strong knocking sound could have been related to an occupation like a blacksmith.
As of the 2000 US census, around 737 people in the United States bear the name ‘Klopstock’. Out of those 737, the highest amount of people bearing the surname lived in Texas (89), followed closely by Minnesota (88) and California (81). Outside of the United States, the surname is more commonly found in France (593) and Germany (4,720).
In addition to this last name being used as a surname, it is also the name of a poet - Friederich von Klopstock - who lived in the late 18th century and wrote significant works of art in the German language.
Variations of the surname Klopstock
Klopstock is a German surname that is derived from an Old Norse word meaning “To Cut”. It is believed to have originally been a nickname for a person who was known as a sharp-tongued, cutting sort of individual. Klopstock itself is also the surname of a famous German poet, Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock.
Variants of the surname Klopstock include Klopstog, Klopstocke, and Klopstocken, which are all German spellings. In addition, Klopsteg, Klostog, and Klostock are Low German variants of the surname. In Switzerland, the surname is spelled Kloepfel.
The English spellings of the name include Klopstock, Clopstock, and Cloppstock.
Variant surnames derived from Klopstock include Kopstock, Kappstock, Kopstuck, Clopstock, Copstuk, and Clopsteg.
In both English and French, the name may be spelled as Clopstoc or Clopstock and may also appear as Clapstock.
In Scandinavia, the surname may be spelled as Klopstocki, Klopstok, or Kloepstok.
Surnames that may be related to Klopstock include the Dutch-based Kloosterman, the Prussian-based Klopstein, and the Jewish Klopstok.
Famous people with the name Klopstock
- Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724: 1803): German poet, regarded as one of the pioneers of modern German literature. He was the first German writer to combine the classical strain of the neoclassical movement of the Enlightenment with religious and personal sentiment.
- Albert Klopstock (1798: 1859): German botanist and university professor. He was a professor of botany at the University of Graz, Austria and is known for his work in plant geography.
- Ferdinand Klopstock (1802: 1889): German industrialist responsible for much of the development of the town of Baden. During the 19th century he expanded industrial production and founded numerous factories including a glassworks, an iron foundry, and a chemical plant.
- Henry Klopstock (1809: 1883): German lawyer and politician. He was a representative in the Prussian parliament from 1867-1871 and participated in the creation of the North German Confederation.
- August Klopstock (1818: 1876): German zoologist and professor at the University of Göttingen. He is remembered for his discovery of species such as the Amazonian wood-louse and the red-breasted frog.
- Oda Klopstock (1825: 1906): German feminist and novelist, writer of the influential novel ‘Frauenträume’ (1856). She was a pioneer in the fields of women’s rights, education and fiction.
- Berthold Klopstock (1842: 1921): German painter and printmaker. He was a member of the German Secession movement and is remembered for his traditional, highly decorative style of art.
- Fritz Klopstock (1872: 1935): German physician and pathologist. He is remembered as for his pioneering research on Louis Pasteur’s discovery of bacteria in the human body, He established the Institute of Pathology in Halle-an-der-Saale in 1914.