Surname Kloess - Meaning and Origin
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Kloess: What does the surname Kloess mean?
The last name Kloess has Germanic origins. It is derived from the Old High German word ‘klus’ meaning ‘closed’. It is thought to come from the Middle High German ‘Kloz’ or ‘Klose’ meaning ‘barricaded’ or ‘enclosed’ and was a nickname for someone who was shy or lived behind a closed door. In some cases, it may have originated as a topographic name for someone who lived by a gate or a lock.
The earliest known recording of the name was found in Germany in the 13th century, when one Conrad Kloess was mentioned in the ‘Liber Memorialis’ of Neidenburg (now Nysa, Poland). It is thought to have first arrived in America during the mid-19th century as a result of German emigration.
Today, the Kloess surname is still found in Germany, the U.S., and countries with strong German influences such as Canada, Australia, and Brazil. It is primarily found in the form ‘Klock’ in the United States. Those with the Kloess last name can be found in a variety of occupations. Most will be found in skilled trades, such as carpentry and masonry, though there are some who hold academic degrees such as; Andrew Kloess, who is currently a professor of historical theology at Baylor University.
The Kloess name is steeped in centuries-old German heritage and comes with a rich history of hard work and forbearers who strived for success in the New World.
Order DNA origin analysisKloess: Where does the name Kloess come from?
The last name Kloess is most commonly found in Germany. The surname is derived from an occupation, meaning "köhler," which was the name for a charcoal burner in German. The name is most commonly located in southern Germany, and has ties to the Palatinate or Pfalz region. It is also found in other parts of Germany, such as Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria. Today, there are over 4,200 individuals with the surname Kloess living in Germany. Additionally, the surname is also found in the United States and other countries around the world.
In the US, the last name Kloess is most common in the Midwest and in some parts of the South. In Illinois, the name is ranked as the 9,102nd most common last name in the state. In other parts of the Midwest, such as Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, the last name is also ranked in the top 20,000 names. Further south, the surname is also ranked in the top 10,000 in Georgia and Mississippi.
In other countries, the surname can be found in relatively small amounts. There are a few individuals living in Austria and Hungary with the last name Kloess. Additionally, the surname can also be found in select countries in Europe, including France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Italy. In terms of density, Germany still has the highest population of individuals with the last name Kloess.
Variations of the surname Kloess
Kloess is a surname of German origin, and can appear in various spellings and variations. The name is derived from a descriptive nickname referring to someone from the region around the town of Kloast in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region, or it could be derived from an old German personal name Claus. Spelling variations of the surname Kloess include Klost, Kleist, Kleiss, Kliest, Klies, Kloesse, Klöss, Klöß, Klos, Klösser, Kloese, Kloesser and Klößner. Surnames can vary in spelling depending on regional and historical factors.
The variations of the Kloess surname bear similarity to the surnames of Klose, Klahn and Klundt - all of which are also derived from the German word "Kloster", meaning "monastery". These variations are likely derived from someone from a monastery, or a similar religious institution.
The Kloess surname can also appear as a variant in English and American spelling, such as Kloss, Closs, Clouse, Clowes, Clouse, Close and Clows. All of these variants are derived from the original German spelling.
Over time, the Kloess surname has been used to derive other surnames, such as Klosse, Klose, Klosek, Klosen and Kloser. Surname Kloess or its variants are found throughout the German-speaking world, but especially in the former Prussian regions of Germany, as well as in some of the bordering countries.
The Kloess surname is also found throughout Europe, and is still used in many places today. While the distribution varies depending on the spelling variation, many of the same people carrying the surname trace their origin to Germany and the surrounding regions.
Famous people with the name Kloess
- Bassam Kloess: German football coach and former player
- Wolfgang Klöss: German composer and music professor
- Günter Kloess: German sprint canoeist
- Lothar Klöss: German footballer
- Johann Joachim Kloess: German classical composer
- Michael Kloess: American musician
- Johannes Kloess: German journalist and author
- Edward A. Kloess: American coal mining executive
- Simon Kloess: German Formula One racing driver
- Eduard Klöss: German diplomat and businessman
- Erich Klöss: German actor
- Nick Kloess: American film producer
- Sven Klöss: German long-distance runner
- Geert Kloess: Belgian track and field athlete
- Heribert Klöss: German entomologist
- Valerie Kloess: German singer and songwriter
- Ernst August Kloess: German physician and scholar
- Philipp Kloess: German philosopher
- Adalbert Kloess: German scholar, architect and archaeologist
- Bernhard Klöss: German biochemist
- Max-Konrad Klöss: German bureaucrat
- Steffen Kloess: German musician
- Alfred Kloess: German aeronautical engineer