Surname Klieber - Meaning and Origin

Klieber: What does the surname Klieber mean?

Klieber is a German surname derived from the word ‘kleiber’, which can mean either ‘small trader’ or ‘woodpecker’. As a result, the overall meaning of the surname is often associated with industry and commerce.

In its historical context, the surname has been used in reference to tradespeople such as blacksmiths, tanners, or woodworkers. Alternatively, it can also be used to denote a person involved in selling and buying goods, as ‘kleiber’ translates to ‘small trader’. This usage may have been borrowing from a similar-sounding Yiddish term, ‘Kleiver’.

More recently, the surname has helped define a number of famous individuals. Notable figures include the Austrian novelist Robert Klieber, the celebrated German engineer Anton Klieber, and German Comedian Karl Lieber. All of these figures have helped shape our contemporary perception of this surname and its meaning.

Overall, the last name Klieber is an excellent example of a surname derived from an oral tradition. Its meaning is rooted in the fact that it can be used to denote a wide variety of tradespeople, with its original meaning historically referring to either small traders or woodpeckers. This rich history has also helped to create a number of famous figures associated with the surname.

Klieber: Where does the name Klieber come from?

The last name Klieber is most commonly found in Germany, where it is the 40,355th most common surname. The Klieber family name is of German origin and is derived from the Old German word "kleiber", which means carpenter or joiner. The name is found throughout many regions in Germany, including Bavaria. It is also found in many other European countries, including Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Belgium.

Klieber was also an Americanized form of the German version of the name. The name was first documented in the United States in the 1800's, with families mostly settling in Ohio, New Jersey, and Missouri. In the late 1800's, many of these families moved to the Midwest, from Indiana to Illinois, and even to Minnesota and Kansas. In the early 20th century, some moved south to Texas and Oklahoma and west to California.

Today, the Klieber name can be found in all of the states that the earlier immigrants inhabited, and continues to be a popular name in Germany. In other parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, the name is also a popular choice for immigrants from German-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Klieber

The surname Klieber has many variants, spellings, and related surnames. Below is a list of some of the ways the name may be spelled:

Kleeber

Kleiber

Kleiberg

Kleibert

Kléiber

Kleberger

Kliebir

Kleeb

Klajber

Klaiber

Kliebenstein

Kliebert

Klieger

Kleiber

Klieper

Kleuppel

Kliepholz

Kliepholz

Klocker

Kluber

Variations of the surname are often found in various parts of the world, with some of the more common variants being Kleiber and Kleeb in Germany, as well as Kliebir and Kliebert in Russia. In the United States, some of the more common variants include Klieper, Klocker, and Kluber. Other variations of the surname may be due to regional dialects and practices of spelling. A local variant of the sausage Klieber, for example, is spelled Klocker in parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

In addition to the spelling variations, the surname Klieber has many related surnames, including Kleeburger, Kleimbacher, Kleimberg, Kleimbergen, Kleimbolz, Kleineberg, Kletzer, Kliebir, and Kliegman.

The meaning of the surname Klieber is believed to be derived from the German occupation of the same name. Those with the last name may have been associated with the occupation of kleiber, or one who made locks or keys. Alternatively, it may have been taken on as a reference to a family's residence near a body of water, such as a river or a lake, that is called a kleiber in German.

Famous people with the name Klieber

• Arnold Schwarzenegger: actor, bodybuilder, and former Governor of California.
• Kim Klieber: British actress, most known for her roles in Chicago, The Mummy Returns, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
• Robert Klieber: the 35th mayor of San Antonio, Texas.
• Christopher Klieber: Founding President of the University of Baltimore.
• Johann Klieber: a Viennese composer of the Classical era.
• Michael Klieber: former basketball player and coach at St. John’s University.
• Anna Klieber: Russian-born German actress who starred in the series Grey's Anatomy.
• Joseph Klieber: an Austrian architect who designed many imperial palaces and castles during the Baroque Era.
• Charles J. Klieber: former executive of EMI Music Group, Warner Music Group, Honeywell International Inc.
• Adam Klieber: a German-born, New York City-based fashion and lifestyle photographer.

Other surnames

KliebenschedelKliebert