Surname Klesen - Meaning and Origin
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Klesen: What does the surname Klesen mean?
Klesen is an uncommon German surname that originated as a nickname for a person of short stature. Its specific etymology is unclear. It may be derived from the German word "kless" meaning 'short' or from its Old German form "klesa" which means "peer." It could also be derived from the term kleine, which means ‘small’. Alternately, it may be a variation of the surname Klein.
Klesen families were found mainly in the German provinces of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. Located in northwestern Germany, today Lower Saxony is the second-largest German state, while Saxony-Anhalt was once a province of East Germany.
The Klesen surname may also be found among migrants and immigrants to other parts of Germany, as well as to other parts of the world. Records point to some early Klesen immigrants to the United States as far back as the mid-1800s. Since then, families of Klesen heritage have continued to spread throughout the U.S., Canada, South America, and even Australia.
Klesen is an uncommon but unique surname, and one that carries a long, interesting history. Many Klesen families now have multiple generations of members located all over the world, all tracing their heritage back to this small German nickname.
Order DNA origin analysisKlesen: Where does the name Klesen come from?
The last name Klesen is most commonly found in Germany today. Historically, Klesen first appeared in Hessen, Germany. The earliest form of this name was "Klossen". It is derived from the Old German word "klussen" which means "to stutter or babble".
Klesen is a very common name in Germany today and can be found across the country. In the German city of Essen alone, it is the 101st most popular last name in the city. Its prevalence in the city has declined since the 1950s, dropping from the 11th most popular name in 1950 to its current position.
This name is also very common in the Netherlands. It is the 56th most popular name in the Netherlands and is especially common in Zuid-Holland, the southwestern province of the Netherlands.
Klesen can also be found throughout the United States and Canada. In the United States, it is most common in Minnesota, where it ranks as the 41st most popular last name in the state. In Canada, it can be found in Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Although the name Klesen is most common in Germany, it can be found around the world. It is a well-distributed name, and its popularity indicates that it will remain a common last name for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Klesen
Klesen is a Dutch and German surname. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "Klese" or the Dutch word "Kleese," both of which mean “small oak” or “little cluster.” Variants and other spellings of the Klesen surname include Kleese, Kles, Klees, Kless, Klese, Klessen, Klassen, Klase, and Kleessen. In some cases, the surname has also been found spelled as Kleesen, Kleisen, Klesen, Kleser, Kleiser, and Klesener.
In terms of surnames with the same origin, Klesen could be confused with variations of the last names Kleissner, Claessen, Kleinert, Kleinknecht, Cloesser, Kleimann, Kleinschmidt, and Kleinsmith and, as well as many others.
Klesen is also a modern spelling found in the Netherlands, and is quite popular in the western part of the country. Similarly, in German-speaking areas, the surname is spelled as Klessen. In particular, Klessen is a fairly common surname in some parts of the country.
In terms of records tracing the Klesen surname, one of the most well-known instances is found in records from the estates of the Dutch city of Muiden, dated from 1618 to 1627. During that time, seven individuals with the surname Klesen were known to have lived in that area. Other records of people with the Klesen surname can be found in Dutch records from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Similarly, there are also records of people with the surname Klessen in Germany, with records going as far back as the 16th century. At the time, there were people with the Klessen surname living in the German states of Hesse and Thuringia. Furthermore, records can be found from the 17th century onwards of people with the Klesen surname living in the Prussian cities of Frankfurt-am-Main and Hamburg.
Famous people with the name Klesen
- Krista Klesen, professional American golfer
- Fred Klesen, former professional ice hockey player
- Martin Klesen, award-winning Danish actor and producer
- Les Klesen, retired National Hockey League (NHL) player
- Kurt Klesen, retired professional baseball player
- Katja Klesen, German author and former entrepreneur
- Jens Klesen, Danish photographer
- Kim Klesen, professional football player from Denmark
- Petra Klesen, German historian and professor
- Uwe Klesen, retired German footballer
- Johannes Klesen, ornithologist and expert on Australian birds In addition to these notable people, there are many more with the surname Klesen. In entertainment, for example, actress Flaminia Klesen appeared in the popular series The Goldbergs and model Stine Klesen has made a name for herself in fashion and beauty circles. Another well-known Klesen is film director Bernd Klesen, who directed the Academy Award-nominated short film, "No More Bullies". In business, there are also a number of prominent Klesens. Entrepreneur Jens Klesen has created a successful family-owned business in Germany, while business leader and investor Jörg Klesen is known for his investments in new technologies. Ove Klesen is a respected innovator in the field of industrial design. Finally, there are also a number of prominent Klesens in academia and science. Hans Klesen is an esteemed professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, while his daughter, Ellys Klesen, is a notable epidemiologist and public health professional. Henning Klesen is a German philosopher and literary scholar.