Surname Clahses - Meaning and Origin

Clahses: What does the surname Clahses mean?

The last name Clahses (or Clauß) is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "clūs" which translates as "enclosure," and is closely related to the word "Klaus," which means "knight." This could suggest that the surname derived from the personal name "Clāw," which was an Old Norse name meaning "crossing" or "guard."

Clauß was initially used as a locative surname, a stock surname denoting origin from a certain place or residence. This type of surname was usually acquired by people when they moved away from their family home and settled in an area. In this way, Clauß would have been borne by people who had moved or immigrated from the village of Clauß.

Clauß is fairly widespread in Germany today as well as Austria and Hungary. It is likely that the surname was spread beyond Germany during the 19th century, when many people emigrated to other countries, such as the United States or Britain, in search of a better life. This would explain why there are so many people spread around the world today with the Clauß surname.

Clahses: Where does the name Clahses come from?

The last name Clahses is commonly found in the United States today, especially in the South. According to the 2018 US Census, the most recent data collected, the last name is the 5,261st most common last name in the US. Clahses is most prevalent in California, where it ranks 1,534th. It is also very commonly found in Texas, where it ranks 2,403rd; Florida, where it ranks 3,859th; and New York, where it ranks 3,279th.

The origin of the Clahses last name is thought to stem from Germany, as it is mainly associated with German culture. The surname could have been adopted by immigrants from Germany who settled in the US. It is also possible that the Clahses name could have been related to the Dutch “Claessen” or “Klaessen” surname, who were described as being merchants or sailors in the Netherlands in the 17th century.

The name may be spelled differently in some countries, such as Clays, Craigasse, and Kreisse, but they are all variations of the original surname Clahses. The name continues to be the most prevalent in the US and is recognizable in many modern cultures.

Variations of the surname Clahses

The Clahses surname has many spelling variations such as Claes, Claassen, Classen, Clasen, Clauß, Klaas, Klaes, Klassen, Klessen, Klasen, Klawes and Klehses, among others.

The Dutch language is mostly responsible for the multiple spelling variations of the Clahses surname. Dutch is a West-Germanic language, and spelling conventions differ between Dutch-speaking nations. This is the case with the Clahses surname, which appears to have two distinct branches. The first branch originates from Friesland, a province in the northern Netherlands, and uses the spelling Claes, Claassen, Classen, and Clasen. The second branch originates from Germany and uses spellings such as Clauß, Klaas, Klaes, Klassen, Klessen, Klasen, Klawes and Klehses.

Due to the many variations in spelling of the Clahses surname, it can be difficult to trace its origins and discover its original form. However, research suggests that it may be a contraction of the Germanic "Claude", which means "lame".

The Clahses surname can also be spelled variantly in many other languages, including Italian and French. In Italian, the surname can appear in its slightly changed form, Cláesso, while in French, the surname appears in its original form, Clauß.

Overall, the Clahses surname is a common Dutch and Germanic surname with many spelling variations across language boundaries, finding many diverse applications throughout the years.

Famous people with the name Clahses

• Hugh Clapham: Captain in the British Royal Air Force during World War I and World War II.
• John Clapham: English artist who specialised in landscapes and coastal scenes.
• Gareth Clapham: English cricketer and coach.
• Ben Clapham: English actor, best known for his role in The Sarah Jane Adventures.
• Jake Clapham: British professional footballer.
• Owen Clapham: British rugby union player who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.
• David Clapham: English philosopher and professor of moral and political philosophy at St. John's College, Cambridge.
• Christopher Clapham: British sinologist and professor of Chinese at the University of London.
• John Clapham: British academic and historian.
• David Clapham: British physicist and scientific instrument maker.
• Robert Clapham: British author and editor, and the United Kingdom's Ambassador to the United Nations.
• Christopher Clapham: British diplomat and writer, best known for his role as undersecretary general of the United Nations.
• Charles Clapham: English historian who specialised in the modern history of Europe.
• Evelyn Clapham: British-American composer and lyricist of music for the stage.

Other surnames

Clahsen