Surname Kless - Meaning and Origin
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Kless: What does the surname Kless mean?
The surname Kless is of German origin and is believed to be a variation of the name Kleiss. This name is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word 'klios', which is thought to refer to someone who lived close to a clearing or an open area. The name may have also derived from the Old German words 'kliuz' meaning "scattering" or 'klid' which implies a separation.
The surname Kless may have referred to someone who was considered as a landowner or a person of the landed class. It could also have referred to individuals from the town of Kless, which is located in the southwestern part of Germany.
The variation Kleiss has been documented as being used in Bavarian records from 1710, faded out of existence in 1748 and was used most prominently in America during the 18th century, when early German immigrants arrived to the east coast. It is also seen in records from Pennsylvania and Maryland during that period.
In modern times, Kless is still most commonly found among German populations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. It can also be found among other descendants of early German settlers during the 19th century, including those from other countries who have adopted the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisKless: Where does the name Kless come from?
The last name Kless is of German origin, and is most commonly found in the former German states of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt, and also in the cities of Berlin and Hamburg in Germany. It is also common in parts of Austria and Switzerland. The name Kless is thought to have derived from the verb "kletzen," which means "begging," as Kless was possibly a nickname for a beggar.
Today, the last name Kless is spread across the world in countries such as the United States, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Denmark. It is particularly popular in the United States, where it is the 1,582nd most common surname according to the 2000 census. In Canada, it ranks 682nd in popularity.
In countries with larger German-speaking populations, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, the name is more commonly encountered. In Germany, it is the 2,074th most common name in 2020, and it is the 2,500th most common name in Austria. Switzerland ranks Kless as the 1,933rd most common surname in 2020.
One famous bearer of the surname is Dwayne William Kless, an American military officer who served in World War II and was later awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Variations of the surname Kless
Kless is an uncommon surname of German, Jewish, and Anglo-Saxon origin. Variants of this surname include Kleess, Cleess, Klaess, and Klaess.
Kless is a diminutive of the male German given name Claus, meaning "victory of the people." A common spelling variant of the name Claus was ‘Klaus’ and was sometimes also spelled with an ‘e’ at the end. As times progressed, the given name often underwent spelling variations, and eventually took the distinct surname Kless.
In German Jewish surnames, the name Kles is also a variant of Kless. This is a Jewish-style matronymic surname originating from Klaus such as Metzkel Kles, meaning "Metzkel, son of Klaus".
Anglo-Saxon origin surname variants include Kless, Klose, Kloes, Kloce, and Kloose. Spelling variations of Kloce include Kloos, Clouse, Close, Cloze, Closs, and Cloos.
Common surnames that are derivative of Kless are Chless, Glus, Klass, Klick, Kleist, and Kleitz. Furthermore, German-style surnames such as Klein (‘little’) and Kline would have been spelled simply ‘Kless’ in the Old English language.
In conclusion, the surname Kless has many variants, spellings, and derivative surnames. Even if the spelling of the name has changed over time, all of these surnames still stem from the given name of Claus or Klaus, and can be easily traced back to its Germanic origin.
Famous people with the name Kless
- David Kless: American actor who has appeared in films, commercials, and television series.
- Ralf Kless: German former competitive figure skater.
- John Kless: American news anchor and reporter for KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa.
- Dave Kless: American country music singer and songwriter.
- Robert Kless: German musician and composer who is a member of the band Die Toten Hosen.
- Susan Kless: American businessperson and philanthropist.
- Michael Kless: American photographer and filmmaker best known for his documentary films.
- Benjamin Kless: Austrian-German chemist who contributed significantly to the development of organometallic chemistry.
- Viktor Kless: Austrian fashion designer and actor best known for his portrayal of the titular character in the Austrian film "Dietrich".
- Paul Kless: American former collegiate basketball player at Duquesne University.