Surname Kleess - Meaning and Origin
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Kleess: What does the surname Kleess mean?
The last name Kleess is of German origin. Its roots can be traced back to the medieval region of Rhenish Hessen, a region which was known for its settlers and knights. The name is derived from the German language, and comes from the noun 'klee' meaning 'clover'. This is reflected in the name Kleess, which is an old German term for someone who lived near a patch of clover. The name is believed to have been given to someone who farmed or lived near a meadow where clover grew.
As a surname, Kleess is quite rare. In the United States, only about 2,000 people carry the name. It is likely to have been brought to the US by German immigrants who moved to certain regions during the colonial era. The name Kleess is mainly found in three counties in North Carolina, where there are players of the game of cornhole who carry the last name.
In German, the name Kleess is sometimes translated to mean ‘Good luck’, which reflects the luck and fortune associated with the name. It is believed by some that any person who bears the name has a special destiny and that it is associated with good luck, which could explain why it is more common in some regions than in others.
In general, the last name Kleess reflects the legacy of the Rhenish Hessen region where it originated. It is likely to have been adopted by those of German descent who have moved abroad, and may offer a sense of luck and fortune or social standing to those bearing the name.
Order DNA origin analysisKleess: Where does the name Kleess come from?
The last name Kleess is most common today in Germany and Austria. According to a surname distribution database, there are over one thousand people with this name living in Germany and about six hundred in Austria.
The Kleess surname can also be found in France, Denmark and the United States. There are relatively small numbers of individuals with the name in these countries. In the US, the name is most commonly found in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.
The origin of the name is still somewhat unknown. While some sources suggest the name is of Germanic origin, others record it as being derived from the Latin word “claus” which means shut. Possible spellings of the name include Kless, Klaes, Kleiss and Kliss.
It is possible that members of the Kleess family living outside of their native Germany and Austria have adopted their last name in more recent years. It remains unknown how long ago the name first evolved.
Variations of the surname Kleess
Kleess is a surname of German origin. Variants of this surname include Kleese, Kless, Kleiss, Kleece, Klees, Kliss, Klec, Kleesey, Kleez, Kleyse, and Klays. It is also seen spelled as Klees or Klys.
Kleess is derived from the Middle High German given name Clais, itself derived from the Latin word “clarus” which means “clear” and “shining”. The surname is likely to have originated as a nickname meaning “shining” or “brilliant”.
Kless, Kleece, Klees, Kliss, Kleez, Klec, and Kleesey are variations of the original spelling of the surname. Kleese and Kleyse are similar spellings, while Klays is a modernized spelling, often seen in English-speaking countries. Klees and Klys are two other modernized spellings of the original surname.
The surname is found in many different countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, and the United States.
In Germany and Austria, related surnames include Klessmann, Kleesemann, Kleesenberg, Kleessen, Klessen, Klasen, and Kleess. Similarly, in Switzerland and the Netherlands, related surnames include Kleissen, Kleisser, Kleysser, Klasen, Kleeser, and Kleinhans.
Overall, the surname Kleess is believed to be derived from the German given name Clais and is found in many countries in many different spellings and variants.
Famous people with the name Kleess
- Jonny Kless: German figure skater who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Johannes Kless: a German modern pentathlete who won multiple gold medals at the 2009 European Championships.
- Eric Kless: American restaurateur who opened Kless' Restaurant and Bar in Philadelphia.
- Armin Kless: German director and screenwriter, best known for his documentaries on WWI.
- Andrea Kless: a German film producer and director, currently working on a series about Vienna's modern art scene.
- Hugo Kless: a German actor best known for his work on television dramas.
- Sandor Kless: Hungarian film composer and producer, responsible for scores for films such as “The Assisi Underground” and “The Dove with the Golden Egg”.
- Stevie Kless: American minute mystery writer; published in The New York Times in 2009.
- Mathieu Kless: French flutist and composer with two albums under his belt: "Revisions" and "Inner Voyage".
- Heinz Kless: Austrian social psychologist who taught at the University of Osnabrück and authored books on the psychology of egoism and love.