Surname Klaess - Meaning and Origin
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Klaess: What does the surname Klaess mean?
The last name Klaess is an old German surname. It is derived from a short form of the personal name Nikolson, which is composed of two elements: the Germanic element "nik" which means "victor" or "conqueror", and the Old Norse element "son", meaning "son of". The surname was presumably used to denote a descendant of a successful leader or warrior.
In German, Klaess is pronounced with a hard “k” sound at the beginning, and the second syllable being pronounced similarly to the English word “lace”. The name is phonetically spelled as [KLAYS], and is commonly rendered in English as Klaes, Klace, Klays or Claes.
The surname Klaess is thought to have first appeared in the Lower Rhineland area of Germany during the twelfth century, though it is also seen throughout other parts of Europe. The coat of arms for this surname features a shield divided by a red diagonal line, with three black prongs And below the line, a chevron of five silver stars is displayed.
Over the centuries, various branches of the Klaess family have emerged and spread throughout the globe. Today, people bearing the Klaess surname can be found in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, the United States, Australia, Canada, and beyond.
Despite its global reach, the last name Klaess still preserves its proud heritage of honor, courage, and strength—attributes neurologically linked to the "nik" element of its origin—and serves as an homage to the generations of ancestors upon which its present-day bearers stand.
Order DNA origin analysisKlaess: Where does the name Klaess come from?
The last name Klaess is most commonly found in Germany, where it ranks as the 514th most common surname. It is also prominent in certain parts of the United States, particularly in the Midwest and Southern states such as North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maryland and Virginia. The surname can also be found in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and Canada, although it is much less common in those countries than it is in Germany.
The surname is thought to have originated in Germany, from the old German name “Klaser”. This name is derived from the German words for “hard” and “metal”, and could have referred to either a smith or a blacksmith. One possible origin of the name is from an old Germanic word that means “knee-bender”, which might refer either to a stonecutter or a blacksmith.
Members of the Klaess family are prominent in many professions, from the sciences and the arts to business and politics. One famous Klaess is German philosopher Karl Klaess, who wrote extensively on social and political subjects. There are also a number of prominent businesspeople and politicians who share the Klaess name, such as Arne Klaess, the former deputy prime minister of Norway. In the United States, the most famous Klaess is actor Chris Klaess, who starred in the popular television series “Heroes” and in the movie “The Prestige”.
Variations of the surname Klaess
The surname Klaess is thought to be a variation of the surname Klaus, which, like Klaess, is an ornamental or occupational surname deriving from the Middle High German word "claus," meaning "knight" or "servant." Other spellings and variants of the surname Klaess include: Claess, Claessen, Claesson, Clasa, Klas, Klaas, Klaase, Klaassen, Klaasen, Klaesen, Klaessens, Klaessons, Klaesssens, Klasen, Klass, Klasse, Klassen, Klassing, Klesen, Kless, Klöss, Klössen, Clouß, Cloußen, Clous, Clousen, Klüße, Klüßen, Klues, and Kluesen.
Surnames that have a similar origin to Klaess but are spelled differently, include: Glas, Glaser, Glaesser, Glaser, Glasse, Gläser, Glaser, Glaessner, Glasyer, Glaßner, Glatz, Glatze, Glasner, Glatzner, Glayzer, Glässer, Gloser, Gloser, Gloeßer, Gless, Gleser, Gloesser, Glüser, Gluesse, Gluesser, and Glusker.
The Klaess surname may also appear in other forms or spellings in various countries, such as Clément in France, Klassen in Russia and the Ukraine, Kles in Germany, Klass in the Netherlands, Gläser or Glaser in Austria, Klaassen in Belgium, and Class in Switzerland.
Famous people with the name Klaess
- David Klaess: Dutch entrepreneur, investor, and CEO of Klaess & Co.
- Arno Klaess: German football player who plays for the youth team of Bayer Leverkusen.
- Manfred Klaess: German politician who was a member of the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament from 2005 to 2019.
- Arnim Klaess: Swiss lawyer, businessperson, and managing partner at KlaessLaw.
- Andreas Klaess: German sculptor and installation artist.
- Mathias Klaess: German-born artist now living and working in Los Angeles, California.
- Jan Willem Klaess: Dutch photographer and media artist.
- Alex Klaess: German former professional tennis player.
- Thomas Klaess: German former football goalkeeper.
- Lorenz Klaess: German rower and a two-time Olympic champion.