Surname Kleeh - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kleeh: What does the surname Kleeh mean?
The last name Kleeh is of German origin and refers to one who was a cooper, or barrel maker. The root of the name, and its variations (Klehe, Klehn, Klehemann, etc.) come from the Middle High German word "kliege," meaning "barrel."
The Klehe/Klehn/Kleeh family in Germany likely evolved from the barrel-making community that was highly important in medieval times. As the need for preserving food and liquids increased, the requirement for a cooper to come up with reliable barrels grew.
The Cooper's Guild was a highly respected one at the time, and the name Kleeh was associated with those who created the barrels. A number of documents from the late 14th century mention a certain Henreich Klehm, a barrel maker of great skill. His family, living in Friemersheim, were primarily engaged in barrel-making.
By the 18th century, the Kleeh family had spread to various parts of Europe, though most stayed in Germany. Today, members of the Kleeh family can be found throughout the world, including in the United States of America. A number of notable folk have held the last name including sculptor Paul Klee and painter Felix Klee.
Order DNA origin analysisKleeh: Where does the name Kleeh come from?
The surname Kleeh is of German origin and is not particularly common today. It is mostly found in German-speaking countries, particularly in the German state of Thuringia in the south-central region. Additionally, Kleeh is known to be found in parts of Austria, Switzerland, and the United States.
In the United States, the surname Kleeh is heavily concentrated in the midwestern states. Specifically in Minnesota, the surname Kleeh is found in the city of Mankato. There is also a small group of Kleeh families in the states of Washington and Oregon. Most of the families found in the United States are of European descent, the majority of them originating from Germany.
During World War 2, the Kleeh surname was distributed across Thuringia, Germany in the form of numerous Jewish census records. Today, the Kleeh surname continues to be found in German public records, and remains some presence in the United States.
Variations of the surname Kleeh
The surname Kleeh can have several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of Kleeh include Klee, Klehe, Kleh, Kleeh, Klehh, Klihe and Klyeh.
The surname Klee is derived from the German word ‘kle’ which means ‘small’ and is found as a surname in parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The spelling Klehe is found throughout the German speaking countries and is also sometimes spelled as Klaehe or Klahe. A variation in spelling can be found in France and other parts of Europe where Kleeh is found.
Kleh is a German surname found in areas of central and western Europe and the spelling Klehh is believed to be derived from the German word klemm, which means to latch or to close firmly.
Other spellings of the surname Kleeh include Klihe, found primarily in Holland, and Klyeh, which is found mainly in parts of Eastern Europe.
The variants of the surname Kleeh vary depending on the region and its language, but the main root remains unchanged: Kle, meaning small.
Famous people with the name Kleeh
- Peter Kleeh: Swiss/German violinist
- Mathias Kleeh: German footballer and manager
- Stephen Kleeh: Former professor of landscape architecture from the University of Southern California
- Enrique Kleeh: Venezuelan director and actor
- Sarah Kleeh: American professional volleyball player
- Cornelia Kleeh: German/American illustrator and sculptor
- Arturo Kleeh: Venezuelan bassoonist and composer
- Francesco Kleeh: Italian artist, sculptor, and photographer
- Lucas Kleeh: German artist, video game designer and musician
- Paul Kleeh: Swiss-German artist and magician