Surname Kligman - Meaning and Origin
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Kligman: What does the surname Kligman mean?
The last name Kligman is derived from the Yiddish term "Kligmen" and is a Jewish occupational surname. It was primarily used to describe people who were involved in the clergy and religious life, and was often associated with those who were associated with religious scholarship or religious leaders. The root word is "klug," which means "wise," and therefore, the name could also mean those who were wise or learned scholars.
Kligmen is derived from the German word "Kliegmen," which means "leader"and can be translated to mean "ruler." This suggests that the Kligman name may have denoted individuals who were religious or spiritual leaders. Additionally, some believe that the name could be derived from the command, "kleugmen," which means "acquire." This suggests that the name could also be associated with individuals who were traders or merchants in the Jewish community.
Kligman is a fairly common name in Eastern Europe, especially in Poland and Russia. While fewer Kligman families are found in the United States, the name has been found in some immigrant records during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In recent years, the Kligman name has also become popular in modern Hebrew culture as a modern-style version of the traditional name.
In summary, the last name Kligman is a Jewish occupational surname, and can likely be linked to religious leadership, wise scholarship, or even trading. It has been relatively popular in Eastern European countries, and is now making a surge in modern Hebrew culture.
Order DNA origin analysisKligman: Where does the name Kligman come from?
The last name Kligman is most commonly found today in the United States. It originated in Eastern Europe, likely in or around the region of Lithuania.
Based on census data, most of the individuals with this name (and its various spellings, such as Kligna, Kligan, Kligen, Kligmann, and Klugman) live in the states of New York and New Jersey, followed by Pennsylvania and California. Additional states with smaller populations of Kligman people include Maryland, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Illinois.
As of 2010, over 1,000 US residents reported the last name Kligman. This was a slight decline from the prior census in 2000, when the population was around 1,400 people. Interestingly, more than twenty percent of those with the surname Kligman living in the US are the grandchildren or great-grandchildren of immigrants from Eastern Europe.
Given its Eastern European roots and current population, the last name Kligman is most likely associated with people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. Fittingly, the surname is most commonly found in areas of the United States that are known for their Jewish populations.
However, given its geographic diversity, it is likely that many Kligman people in the US today are from various backgrounds. The similarity in presence across the US likely reflects the mobility of the American people, even amid a pandemic, as this surname is found in many states in the country, west and east.
Variations of the surname Kligman
Kligman is a German surname. It is derived from the German word “Klinge” which means “sword”. It is possibly derived from an ancient family crest.
Variations of the name Kligman are Kliegman, Klimman, Kleigman and Klagmann. Surnames derived from the same origin include Klügel, Klug, Klieg, Kluger, Klee, Klut, Klie, Klemann, Klein and Kling.
There are some alternate spellings and variations of Kligman within German-speaking countries. In Austria, it is spelled as Kleigman, Kliegman, Klimman or Klugmann. In Germany, it is spelled as Kleigman, Kleigmann, Klugman, Klugmann or Klingmann, while in Switzerland it is spelled as Kleigman, Klugman, Klingmann, Klimman or Kliegmann.
Additionally, the surname has been Anglicized from Kligman to Kliegman and Klugman. There are also variant spellings of the name in other parts of the world, such as Kligman in Lithuania and Kleigman in Russia.
The surname of Kligman is known to be very rare and is primarily found in Germany and Austria. It is also purportedly found in the United States, mostly concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Florida and California.
Famous people with the name Kligman
- Ruth Kligman: American Abstract Expressionist painter.
- Mark Kligman: Taleban-era terror professor of English at the University of Arizona
- Victor Kligman: Brazilian fashion designer
- Josh Kligman: American producer, director and screenwriter
- Yussel Kligman: Israeli chess grandmaster
- Alix Kligman: Canadian singer-songwriter
- Eli Kligman: Canadian singer-songwriter and musician
- Mike Kligman: Canadian musician, entrepreneur and television producer
- Billy Kligman: American television producer and screenwriter
- Oded Kligman: Israeli professor of computer science at the Technion.