Surname Klassen - Meaning and Origin
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read moreKlassen: What does the surname Klassen mean?
Klassen is an occupational surname derived from Middle High German and modern German that means "class" or "clan". This was a name typically used to refer to a person who was a member of a certain class of people.
Originally, it indicated the privilege and class of an individual. This privilege was based on their occupation, ancestry, or the region in which the person lived. The name could also describe a person who was part of a particular political or social class.
Throughout the centuries, the name began to be adopted by other groups, such as those who converted to Christianity from Judaism, as well as immigrants who settled in different parts of the world.
Today, Klassen is still a very common surname. It is particularly found in Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United States. In these countries, it is used by individuals of German, Dutch, Jewish, and Slavic descent.
The name is most often spelled "Klassen", but there are also several variants, including "Klasson", "Klassman", "Klazen", "Klazema", and "Klasen".
Overall, the name Klassen is a way of indicating a certain class of people with an occupational or ancestorial background. It can be found throughout many regions of the world, and is worn today by individuals of various cultural backgrounds.
Order DNA origin analysisKlassen: Where does the name Klassen come from?
Klassen is a relatively common surname throughout the German speaking world, including in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and parts of Central and Eastern Europe. Klassen is a toponymic or habitational surname, meaning it is derived from the name of a place or region. In this case, it largely originated from the Old High German "Klessa," which denoted a common area of land that encompassed the surrounding area or provided access to water.
Outside of the German speaking world, Klassen is used in Dutch, Afrikaans and Plautdietsch (Low German) speaking regions, particularly in the Netherlands, Friesland, Namibia and in the Mennonite communities in Latin America.
Klassen can also be found in the United States and Canada. Klassen in these parts of the world are likely to be descendants of Germanic immigrants who came in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but may also be of Dutch, Plautdietsch or West Slavic descent. The name can also be found in other parts of Europe, such as the United Kingdom, where it is likely to be derived from Dutch settlers.
Klassen is a variant spelling of several similar names, such as Klaus, Klause, Klaas and Claas. It may also have been simplified from earlier spellings, such as Classen, Glasen, Klosse and Klössen.
Variations of the surname Klassen
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Klassen are varied. Some of the more common variants are: Klasen, Klossen, Klaassen, Kluassen, Klaßen, Kloss, Klusen, Klassing, Klußen, Klasing, Clossen, Clausen, Claassen, Clessen, Clossen and Claessen.
Klassen is derived from Middle High German and is related to the Old Germanic occupation surname Clas or Klas, which means ‘clerk, scholar’. It then evolved into the modern German Klasse, which means ‘class’. The first records of this name appeared in written documents in the 16th century.
The most common form of the name in the United States is Klassen. Some of the derived surnames from Klassen include Klaring, Klast, Klazen, Klaza, and Klesse. Another variant of the name is Klaassen van der Hillen, which is a name that arose from a family of Dutch nobility.
Klassen is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, and Northern Europe. It is also widely found in Scandinavian countries such as Denmark and Norway, Switzerland and Austria, and in other countries like South Africa, New Zealand, and Brazil.
The surname Klassen can be spelled in various ways depending on the linguistic region and other personal preferences. Some of the more creative spellings include Klausen, Kloschen, Klasche, Klause, and Klouz.
Overall, the surname Klassen is a good example of how family names can evolve over time as they spread throughout different countries. From the origin of Klas or Kluss, the name has been adapted to various linguistic areas and personal preferences, giving rise to different spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Klassen
- Marielle Klassen: Marielle Klassen is a German actress and model who has starred in hit television shows such as Verbotene Liebe and Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten.
- Carl Klassen: Carl Klassen is a Canadian comedian and actor known for his comedy albums and work in movies such as Cube Zero and The Pacifier.
- Wayne Klassen: Wayne Klassen was an American business executive and chairman of the board and CEO of Rohm and Haas Company from 1984 to 1988.
- Bernhard Klassen: Bernhard Klassen was a German theologian and philosopher of the Protestant Reformation.
- Abigail Klassen: Abigail Klassen is an American business executive and current President & Chief Executive Officer of SERV International.
- Jardine Klassen: Jardine Klassen is Canadian author and illustrator best known for her children's books.
- Ben Klassen: Ben Klassen was a white supremacist who founded the Church of the Creator in 1973.
- Doug Klassen: Doug Klassen is a Canadian speed skater who finished fourth in the 1,500 metre event at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
- Peter Klassen: Peter Klassen is a professional Canadian football player who currently plays for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
- Jeff Klassen: Jeff Klassen is a Canadian musician and composer best known for his work with the band Klaatu.