Surname Kleeß - Meaning and Origin

Kleeß: What does the surname Kleeß mean?

The last name Kleeß (also spelled Kleess or Kleiss) is an occupational surname of German origin. As an occupational surname, it originated from someone who worked in the cattle-raising industry. The name itself is derived from the Old High German word ‘klos’, which means ‘ enclosure’ or ‘fold’. This implies that the name was most likely held by someone who worked in, or was responsible for, a cattle herd, likely managing a fold or enclosure to keep the animals in a certain area.

Kleeß is a fairly uncommon surname, and is most common in some parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is believed to have originated in the area of Bavaria, where it is still relatively common today.

Due to the agriculture-based origins of the specific last name, there is likely a deep history of Kleeß ancestors that have worked in farming, herding, and agricultural labor. Kleeß ancestors were likely valuable members of their community due to their hard work and knowledge of the ever-important cattle-raising industry.

Kleeß is certainly an interesting and unique last name that holds the story of an ancestor and their profession. It is likely that the Kleeß surname has a long history with the area, and is deeply rooted in the history of the culture’s agricultural past.

Kleeß: Where does the name Kleeß come from?

The surname Kleeß is most commonly found in Germany, where it is the 159th most common surname. In 2013, there were 6,279 people in Germany using the surname Kleeß. It is also found in other parts of Europe, such as Austria, which had 48 people with this surname in the year 2000, as well as Switzerland, where Kleeß is the 660th most common surname.

The surname can also be found in North America, particularly in the United States. For example, in the year 2000, there were 599 people in the United States with the last name Kleeß. Many of these individuals have German or Austrian ancestors.

In addition, Kleeß is also common in Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil, where many individuals with German ancestry have emigrated from the late 19th century onwards.

The surname could also be found in other parts of the world, such as in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, although it is less common. In the United Kingdom, there were a total of 189 people with the surname Kleeß in the 2011 census.

Overall, Kleeß is most common in the German-speaking world, with significant concentrations in Austria and the United States. It is also found in other countries where German immigrants have settled, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia.

Variations of the surname Kleeß

The surname Kleeß is of German origin and has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Kleess, which is estimated to represent over seventy percent of all people with the surname. Other variants of this surname include Kleist, Kleyß, Kleith, Klietz, and Klitz. It may also be spelled with an 'e' instead of an 'ß', resulting in Klee, Klees, Kleesch, and Kleis.

The surname Kleeß has several related surnames that have likely formed over time; these include Kless, Kleusch, Klies, Klish, Klote, Kloß, and Klosse. Other surnames of similar origin include Kluess, Kluss, Cless, Clees, Kleiss, and Kleisch. Additionally, variations of Kleeß and its related surnames have been found in several other countries with German-speaking populations, such as Switzerland, Belgium, and The Netherlands.

The origin of the Kleeß surname is likely linked to the German word “kleiner”; which means “small” in English. It is thought to have originally been used as a nickname to refer to a small person, and is similar to other German names such as Klein and Kleine. It is important to note that most people with the surname Kleeß have Dutch or Flemish backgrounds, while some have German backgrounds.

Famous people with the name Kleeß

• Paul Kleeß: a German Expressionist artist, linking expressionism, Cubism and abstract art.
• Andreas Kleeß: a German sculptor and professor of aesthetics at the University of Munich.
• Willi Kleeß: a German painter and graphic artist.
• Erich Kleeß: a German actor.
• Christine Kleeß: a German journalist and television presenter.
• Annegret Kleeß: a German actress.
• Susanne Kleeß: a German actress.
• Maren Kleeß: a German television producer and director.
• Bernd Kleeß: a German actuary and professor at the Technical University of Berlin.
• Heinrich Kleeß: a German civil engineer and architectural historian.
• Dirk Kleeß: a German actor and director.
• Michael Kleeß: a German neurosurgeon.
• Stefan Kleeß: a German film director, dramatist, and professor of dramatic writing.

Other surnames

Kleeßen