Surname Cluss - Meaning and Origin
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Cluss: What does the surname Cluss mean?
The last name Cluss is believed to be derived from a form of "Klaus", which is a Germanic name derived from the word for "victory of the people". This is likely a reference to the Germanic mythology in which a victorious figure who brings glory to the people is referred to as Cluss. The name may also be derived from a form of the Latin name ‘Claudius’. In Latin, “Claudius” literally means “lame”, but can also be interpreted as “stumbling”, which may be symbolically related to another idea of "victory over obstacles".
The first Cluss name is believed to originate from the German village of Cluss, which was located in the Rhineland near the modern city of Cologne. This location was home to the Cluss family in the Middle Ages, and the name is associated with the historic region of Westphalia.
The name Cluss could also be associated with the Old Germanic personal name ‘Cluss’, which has a religious origin. This is due to the fact that ‘Cluss’ is related to the Old High German word meaning ‘closer’, and was used as a reference to the closeness of two or more people in a spiritual context.
Throughout history, the surname Cluss has been associated with many notable figures in different areas, including a German chemist and vintner by the name of August Cluss, as well as the German-American architect Adolf Cluss. Today, people with the surname Cluss can be found throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisCluss: Where does the name Cluss come from?
The last name Cluss is of German origin and is common today in Germany and parts of Switzerland and Austria. It is also found in some areas of the United States, primarily in Pennsylvania and other areas of the Northeast. Its frequency is quite low in the United States, however, and the name is not found in the top 1000 surnames in the United States.
The name is derived from the German word for "knot" or "braid". It was likely once used as a nickname for a person who was particularly skilled at tying knots. The surname first appeared in Germany in the 11th century and was associated with various noble families.
Today, the last name is most common in Lower Saxony, Germany, where it is the 387th most frequent surname. In Bavaria, it is the 538th most common and in North Rhine-Westphalia, it is the 822nd most frequent name.
In the United States, the name is not among the top surname rankings, but is more common in some areas. In Pennsylvania, for example, it is the 4th most common foreign name, with more than 5800 people in the state possessing the name. In New Jersey, Cluss ranks as the 218th most common surname. In Ohio, it is the 610th most common name.
Overall, Cluss is far more common in Germany and other parts of Europe than it is in the United States. However, in Pennsylvania and other areas of the northeast United States, it is more popularly used than in the rest of the nation.
Variations of the surname Cluss
The surname Cluss is a variation of several similar sounding names, including Kluss, Klus, Clausse, and Klusse. All of these variants trace their origin back to a common ancestor.
The surname Cluss most likely began as a patronymic, which is a name derived from a father's name, in this case a Germanic tribal leader named Kluss. German patronymic surnames were formed by adding an “s” to the end of the father’s name to create the son’s surname, thus explaining the common variations of the Cluss surname.
Variations of the Cluss surname were also created as regional and linguistic influences changed the pronunciation of the original name. Over time, the spelling of the Cluss surname evolved, varying from region to region and person to person.
Today, the surname Cluss has many spelling variations, including Kluss, Klus, Clausse, and Klusse. It is also possible to find similar sounding surnames such as Klatt, Klust, Klauss, Kloes, and Kluster.
Although they are all variations of the Cluss surname, each spelling carries a unique history of its own. In some cases, the spelling difference might reveal geographical origin, while in others it may tell of a different branch of the Cluss family.
No matter the spelling, the Cluss surname has a long and distinguished history that is shared by all its variants and spellings.
Famous people with the name Cluss
- Paul Cluss: American political figure and the former mayor of Washington, D.C.
- August Cluss: German- American architect and builder.
- August Cluss Jr.: German American architect who succeeded his father as an architectural partner.
- Albert Cluss: German-American architect and builder who created some of the city's earliest landmarks.
- Carl Cluss: congressman and later senator from Maryland.
- Barbara Cluss: American hospitality entrepreneur who was the founder of the world-famous Dorchester Hotel in London.
- Karl Heinrich Cluss: German-American engineer and urban planner.
- Alan Cluss: American artist who is known for his unique vision of Cubism and Expressionism.
- Charles Cluss: European-American sculptor, designer, and author.
- Ronald Cluss: American politician who served as mayor of Houston from 1982 to 1989.