Surname Kleimeier - Meaning and Origin
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Kleimeier: What does the surname Kleimeier mean?
The last name Kleimeier is German in origin and is derived from the German word “kleim,” meaning “clay.” It is a toponymic name; one that is derived from a place name. Specifically, the surname was most likely taken from those living near clay deposits or in locations where clay was a vital part of local industries.
It could also have been derived from Kleimeier (or Climeier), which was a region near Hanover in Germany from which many people with the surname originates from. It is possible that some people with the last name Kleimeier are descended from people who traveled from Kleimeier some time in the past, or whose family had roots in this area and then moved away.
The Kleimeier surname is quite common throughout Germany and is very common in European countries that are closely related to Germany. It also appears in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and Northern Europe. It is not especially common in the UK or Ireland.
The name Kleimeier is usually associated with clay, whether it refers to people who worked with clay or those who lived near or had family from areas rich in the material. This leaves behind an interesting legacy of hardworking immigrants, many of whom changed the way we use and think of clay forever.
Order DNA origin analysisKleimeier: Where does the name Kleimeier come from?
The last name Kleimeier is a German surname, and is therefore most commonly found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In fact, in 2018 it was the 2,948th most common surname in Germany. Since there is a long-standing tradition of emigration out of German-speaking countries, however, Kleimeier is also found in various other places.
It can be seen in the United States, for example, where in 2017 approximately 877 people had the name. Other countries where Kleimeier is sometimes seen include the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. In recent times, the name has been spreading as far afield as Canada, India, Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines and New Zealand. It appears to be seeing its greatest success in the United States, however, where the number of Kleimeiers is rising steadily year by year.
Overall, then, the last name Kleimeier is still most commonly seen in German-speaking countries, but is found across many other places too. Due to sustained emigration, it has spread to many foreign countries, and has been enjoying considerable success in the United States in particular.
Variations of the surname Kleimeier
Kleimeier is an interesting surname with several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variant is Clevermeyer, which is the Anglicized spelling of the German surname. Clevermeyer was most frequently found in the 18th century in Pennsylvania and New York.
Kleimeier can also be found as Kleimayer, Kleymeyer, Klemmey, Kleymayer and Kleighmyer. Kleimayer is the most common variant of this surname, and is found primarily in Bavaria and Germany. It is also found in the U.S. and Canada, primarily in Wisconsin and Ontario.
Other variants with the same origin are Kleimeyer, Clausemeyer, Klimek, Klimky, Klimmke, Klimick, Kliminski, Klimecki, Kleimicki and Kleymyer. Kleimeyer is the most common variant, found mainly in Germany, Austria, and Poland. Clausemeyer is found mainly in the former German states of Bayern and Baden-Württemberg.
Klographers have noted other variants including Kleemeyer, Kleymeyur, Kleemeyur, Klemayer, Clamayer, Klimly and Kleymyury. These variants are less common in contemporary records.
All variants of Kleimeier share a common geographical origin, generally in Germany and its surrounding regions. The name likely began as a toponymic name, indicating a person who came from the town or region of Kleymayer or Kleimar. It was also likely altered over the centuries through dialectical variations and mistakes in transcription.
Famous people with the name Kleimeier
- Ann-Kathrin Kleimeier: German actress
- Justin Kleimeier: American hip-hop artist and composer
- Mathias Kleimeier: German footballer
- Melanie Kleimeier: German veterinary scientist and lecturer in university
- Veronika Kleimeier: German Paralympic volleyball player
- Anton Kleimeier: German cellist and composer
- Johann Karl Kleimeier: German actor and film director
- Valentin Kleimeier: German cinematographer
- Ulrike Kleimeier: American television producer and writer
- Sakiko Kleimeier: Japanese-American artist and sculptor