Surname Klaessen - Meaning and Origin
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Klaessen: What does the surname Klaessen mean?
Klaessen is a German surname which originated in the region around Hanover during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the word 'claussen', which was a reference to a clover patch or a meadow. The name would have derived from a family who owned or tended such a place, and those with the surname Klaessen would have been known for their association with this type of land.
In more recent times, Klaessen is a quite common surname in Germany. It has spread across the country with its variant spellings, including Klausen, Clasen, Klaesen, Claessen and Klassen. The name is especially likely to be found in areas with strong historical connections to Hanover, such as Thuringia and Lower Saxony. With the emigration of German peoples throughout the centuries, Klaessen has also spread to other countries, including the US, Canada and Argentina.
Those with the surname Klaessen are likely to have been associated with agriculture and with a close connection to the land, and may have been landowners or farmers for generations. It is likely that this background has given them a strong sense of community and a deep appreciation of the natural environment.
Order DNA origin analysisKlaessen: Where does the name Klaessen come from?
The last name Klaessen is most common in Luxembourg and the Netherlands, with smaller concentrations in Germany, Belgium, and France.
In Luxembourg, the last name Klaessen is one of the ten most common surnames, and it was probably established there by German settlers. In the Netherlands, the name Klaessen is the 130th most common, indicating that it has been present there for quite some time.
In Germany, the Klaessen surname is most prevalent in the country’s western and southern regions, and statistics show that its holders in Germany are mainly concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Belgium, the Klaessen surname has some presence in the Walloon region, mainly in the town of Tintinghem.
France also has a small population of Klaessens, most of whom live concentrated around the Champagne Ardennes region of the country.
The Klaessen surname is relatively uncommon in other parts of the world, but it can be found in countries such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, Austria, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Klaessen
The surname Klaessen is of Germanic origin, and there are numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common spelling is Klassen, with Kleassen and Kleyssen being its two primary variations. It is often derived from the northern German words “Klausen” or “Klasse”, which mean “a member of a certain family.” Other spellings include Clasen, Classen, Klesen, Kleyessen, Klessen, Klausen, Claessen, Claessens, Kalasen, Clawson, and Clawsen.
The surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands, as it was carried there by immigrants from northern Germany in the Middle Ages. It is also found in Belgium, where it is often spelled Klesens or Claessens.
The variants and surnames of Klaessen also include: Kaasen, Kaesen, Klasen, Klaesen, Klasen, Klassen, Kleessen, Klisens, Klissen, Klysen, Klísen, Clasen, Classen, and Kleissen. It is believed that the spelling Kyssen is a variant of Klaessen, as is the diminutive form, Klassner.
Klaessen is also a rare version of the Scotland-based surname McGlashan, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Fhionnghalais, meaning “the son of the servant of the fair one". The Klaessen spelling of the surname is sometimes found in German-speaking parts of North America.
Famous people with the name Klaessen
- Carsten Klaessen: A German World Champion and Olympic Speed Skating champion.
- Alex Klaessen: A wildlife conservation photographer and filmmaker based in South Africa and the United States.
- Lars Klaessen: A Dutch Belgium-based wine commentator and author.
- Leon Klaessen: A Dutch contemporary artist, best known for his abstract photography.
- Martin Klaessen: An German actor, best known for his work in three films: “Das Fenster zum Hof”, “Der Knabe im Moor”, and “Der Pflocker”.
- Robin Klaessen: An Dutch award-winning TV personality, most famous for hosting “De Slimste Mens ter Wereld”, (The Smartest Person in the World).
- Xander Klaessen: A Dutch football player currently competing for Go Ahead Eagles in Eerste Divisie.
- Peter Klaessen: An Austrian-born playwright and screenwriter, best known for the works “Das Abenteuer” and “Das Winkelstubchen”, both which earned him a German Film Award as Best Screenplay.
- Hans Klaessen: An Danish computer scientist specializing in computer architecture and parallel computing.
- Willem Klaessen: A Dutch physicist, best known for his theories in quantum mechanics.