Surname Kles - Meaning and Origin

Kles: What does the surname Kles mean?

The last name Kles is a variation of the common Germanic surname Klose, which can be traced to the Middle Ages. The origin of the name is uncertain, but hypotheses suggest a connection with either the Old High German word "Klos," meaning "narrow, slender, or small," or the Old Saxon root "klod," meaning "splendor, glory, brightness."

Kles is also an Anglicized version of the last name Kleske, which originated in the region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. In the 1700s, many skilled craftsmen from the area migrated to the United States in search of better opportunities.

Today, the Kles family name is most commonly found in North America, especially in the United States and Canada. The Kles family is also quite prominent in Europe, particularly in England, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.

The modern Kles surname is a testament to the longevity and diverse cultural backgrounds of the family. It is to be hoped that those who bear the Kles name will carry on its legacy of strength, bravery, and ambition in their day-to-day lives, celebrating their family history and honoring their shared roots with each other.

Kles: Where does the name Kles come from?

The last name Kles is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries such as Germany, Poland, Austria, and Czech Republic. In Germany, the name Kles is ranked as the 4,962nd most common last name. It is also particularly common in the western parts of Poland and the Czech Republic, where it is still encountered frequently in both towns and villages.

The origin of the name is not entirely known, though some sources indicate that it is derived from the old Germanic name Clement, which means “mild, merciful”. The Kles spelling appears to be of more recent origin, though, and is likely an adaptation of the name to the languages and dialects of the countries where it is most common today.

Kles is an often used last name that is still prevalent in many countries of Central and Eastern Europe. While its origin is still uncertain, it has become an enduring and widely used name, and can be encountered in many towns and villages around the region.

Variations of the surname Kles

The surname Kles is a common Jewish surname and can be found in many countries and contexts. It is often spelled as Kles or Klez, and also appears under various additional forms and spellings, including Klese, Klezs, Kleses, Klezes, Klish, Klies, Kliese, Klyes, Klys, Klis, Klise, and Klysse.

The alternate spelling of Kles is most likely to be of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, and is often associated with East European, Czech, German, and Polish Jewish cultures. The primary meaning of the name is attributed to a combination of two words "Klee", which is the Yiddish word for "clover" and "Z," which is a Yiddish honorific suffix. This combination can be translated to mean "clover blossom" or "a flower among clover blossoms."

In some occasions, the name Kles may also be a variation or shortened version of the name "Kleins", a Yiddish name derived from 'Klein' which means 'small' in the Yiddish language.

Additionally, variants of the name Kles may appear due to merging of certain letters during translation, such as “Klese” which is derived from the combination of the “Kles” and the letter “e” which often serves as the religious obligation name.

The surname Kles is often found in combination with other surnames, either phonetically or orthographically, such as Kleness, Klesmer, and Klezmer. Such surnames often denote a profession or family background, such as the family’s musical roots, or ties to a specific region or culture.

In conclusion, the surname Kles appears under a variety of spellings—Klĕs, Klez, Klese, Kleses, Klezes, Klish, Klies, Kliese, Klyes, Klys, Klis, Klise, Klysse, Kleins, and Klesmer among others—and may be of Ashkenazi Jewish or Yiddish origin, denoting those with a Jewish heritage.

Famous people with the name Kles

• Cynthia Kles: State Representative from Texas
• Mona Kles: Icelandic politician
• Judit Kles: Hungarian chess grandmaster
• Theresa Kles: American actress
• Niclas Kles: Swedish soccer player
• Katarina Kles: Norwegian rower
• Erland Kles: Norwegian author
• Paul Kles: German archaeologist
• Bill Kles: American newspaper editor
• Magda Kles: Polish dressmaker

Other surnames

KlebaurKleberKlebergKlebergerKlebertKlebesKleeKleebauerKleebaurKleebergKleebergerKleeblattKleefKleefeldKleefeldtKleeffKleefischKleefmannKleehKleeleKleemaierKleemanKleemannKleemayerKleemayrKleemeierKleemeyerKleenKleeneKlees