Surname Klaasmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Klaasmeier: What does the surname Klaasmeier mean?
The last name Klaasmeier is an occupational surname derived from the Dutch language. It is a combination of two words "Klaas" and "meier." Klaas is a Dutch variant of the name Nicholas, referring to the Christian saint, while Meier is derived from the Old Low German word "meiger" meaning guardian, superintendent or overseer. Therefore, it is believed that Klaasmeier likely referred to a person who held a position of authority or was an overseer of some kind.
The name first began being used in the Netherlands in the Middle Ages. At the time, last names were used not just to distinguise families, but rather an individual’s occupation or role in the village. It was especially common among the working class, as it was a way of signaling not just their heritage, but also the profession in which they were employed. As such, throughout its history, Klaasmeier has likely indicated a person whose primary occupation was some form of oversight or management.
The Klaasmeier name is still found throughout the Netherlands to this day, as well as in other countries that have Dutch ancestry such as Germany and the United States. While still in use, its prevalence has likely decreased in recent years due to the fact that traditional occupations are not as common as they once were.
Order DNA origin analysisKlaasmeier: Where does the name Klaasmeier come from?
The last name Klaasmeier is most common in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in the Netherlands and Luxembourg, as well as in the United States. In the US, there are currently over 1,500 people with the Klaasmeier surname. The majority of them live in North Carolina, followed by Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and California.
This surname likely originates from the Middle High German word 'klaas', which means ‘clash’ or ‘squabble', and 'meier', which roughly translates into 'mayor'. This suggests the Klaasmeier family name was initially derived from an official title of a local mayor or a chief magistrate in a medieval administrative district.
In Germany, the name is most prevalent in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. In Austria, it is found mainly in the province of Upper Austria as well as in the capital of Vienna. In Switzerland, the Klaasmeier surname appears to be most widespread in the canton of Zurich.
The Klaasmeier name, like many German surnames, is found primarily among people of German ethnic background. It is likely that many Klaasmeiers have some degree of distant family relationship because of their shared surname. As fewer and fewer people have the surname, it becomes increasingly important to keep family records to preserve the collective history of the Klaasmeier family name.
Variations of the surname Klaasmeier
The surname Klaasmeier is a German-origin surname that is also found in Dutch, Danish, and Frisian cultures. The surname originates from the personal name Claas, which is a contracted form of the German name Nikolaus.
Variant spellings of the surname Klaasmeier include Klaasmeijer, Klaasmayer, Klaasmeyer, Klaasmeyers, Klassmeyer, Claasmeier, Klazmeyer, Klaasmyer, Klazmeijer, Klaasmeer, Klaismeyer, Klassmeijer, Klaasyer, Klasmeyer, Kläsmeyer, Clasmeijer, Klazmeijer, Claassmeyer, Claasmeijer, and Klazmeyer.
The surnames Klaas, Kleis, Klein, Kliem, Klieuw, and Klier are all derivatives of the name Klaasmeier. In Dutch culture, particularly in the Netherlands, the surname Klaasmeier is differentiated between Klaasmeier and Klasmeijer, with the former being more commonly used.
In some parts of Europe, the surname Klaasmeier is also known as Klas, with its variant spellings including Klaas, Klass, and Kleis. In Germany, the surname is found as Klaasmeier, Klassmeyer, and Klaasmayer, with Klaapmeyer also occasionally being used. Danish variants of the surname include Klasmeie, Klaasmeie, and Klaasmeier.
In Frisian cultures, the surname is found as Klaasmijer, Klaassmijer, Kleismei(j)er, and Klaasmijer, with the last three variants being the most commonly used spellings. In all cultures, the spelling Klaasmeier is the most well-known spelling of the surname.
Famous people with the name Klaasmeier
- Sigmar Klaasmeier: German visual artist and sculptor.
- Jürgen Klaasmeier: German computer scientist and Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at the University of Hamburg.
- Willie Klaasmeier: American Major League Baseball player.
- Sven Klaasmeier: German cross-continental skier, who has participated in numerous championships across Europe and North America.
- Johannes Klaasmeier: German jazz musician, composer and arranger.
- Harald Klaasmeier: German alpine ski racer and former World Cup slalom champion.
- Wilhelm Klaasmeier: German former World Cup alpine skier.
- Jonathan Klaasmeier: American philosopher and author.
- Joseph Klaasmeier: German classical composer.
- Klaus-Dieter Klaas Meier: German former tennis player in the 1970s and 1980s.