Surname Klaass - Meaning and Origin
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Klaass: What does the surname Klaass mean?
The last name Klaass is of German origin and is most likely derived from the Middle High German word klaas, which translates to mean "cloak." It likely originated as a surname denoting a person who made and/or sold clothing, particularly cloaks. The spelling of the surname has also varied over time and may be found as Klaas, Klaes, Klass, or Claas.
The presence of the surname Klaass can be found in records dating back to the early 16th century. Various family members are recorded in the ancient documents of the German-speaking parts of Europe, most notably in Prussia. Notable people bearing the last name are also found in England, Holland, and the United States.
The surname Klaass has continued to remain popular in certain areas In Germany, Luxemburg and the Netherlands. In America, the name is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, followed by Maryland, New York, and Indiana. Spelling variants can be found in other countries such as Canada and the U.K.
The surname Klaass has taken on different meanings over the centuries, from a moniker of a clothing merchant to become a symbol of pride and heritage. The name has endured the test of time, remaining popular among the family line, while also allowing more modern generations to connect to their history.
Order DNA origin analysisKlaass: Where does the name Klaass come from?
Klaass is a German-origin surname. It can be commonly found in several German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Additionally, it is also popular among people of German ancestry in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Suriname, and Indonesia.
Klaass is a toponymic surname, which means it is derived from a place name, usually where the family lived or held land. The root of the name, “klaa” or “klasa”, is believed to come from the word for “ditch” or “bog”. Thus, the name would have been given to someone who lived near a drain, drain path, or ditch.
In Germany, the highest concentration of the Klaass surname is in the city of Wilhelmshaven, located in Lower Saxony. In Austria, it is most commonly found in the Salzburg region, in particular the city of Salzburg itself.
In the United States, people named Klaass are mostly descended from German immigrants who arrived in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries. They can be predominantly found in the Midwest, particularly in the states of Iowa and Missouri.
For genealogists, some of the best resources for tracing the history of the Klaass name are German and Austrian archives. These include records of births, deaths, and marriages, which can provide valuable information about the people with this name and their connections to the places they lived.
Variations of the surname Klaass
The surname Klaass is a patronymic name derived from the Dutch given name Klaus. Variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin include Claas, Claes, Clauss, Klass, Klaus, Klauss, Clausson, Claesson, Klausen, Claussen, and Klaassen.
Klaus is traditionally thought to have derived from the Latin given name Nicolas, also spelt Niclas and Niclaus, meaning “people of victory”. This reflects the centuries-long struggle by the early Dutch, especially during the revolt against Spanish rule called the “Eighty Years' War” (1568 - 1648). The name Klaus remained popular in the Low Countries from the late Middle Ages through the Dutch Golden Age under the Dutch Republic or Holland (from 1588 to 1795).
The English spelling of the surname Klaass is usually Klaas, since Dutch often has double “s”, which is replaced by a single “s” in English. The German variant of this name is Claas, which is also found in various spellings in locations where German is spoken, such as Switzerland, Austria, and the southern areas of the Netherlands and Denmark.
The patronymic Dutch surname Klaassen is the most common variant of the name and is often used as a middle name. It is approximately equivalent to the English use of the “-son” suffix, indicating that the first bearer of the surname was the son of someone named Klaus or someone using the name as a diminutive form of Nicolaes/Nicholas. This variant is most commonly found in northern provinces of the Netherlands, especially Friesland and Groningen, but is found in other countries as well.
Famous people with the name Klaass
- Klaas Jan Huntelaar: Former Dutch professional footballer and current manager of Ajax.
- Klaas-Jan Marie van Noordwijk: Retired Dutch professional footballer.
- Klaas Vantornout: Belgian cyclo-cross cyclist.
- Klaas Köhnke: German cinematographer.
- Klaas de Waal: Dutch rower.
- Klaas de Vries: Dutch composer, theatre musician and civil servant.
- Bertien Klaassen: Dutch shot putter.
- Klaas van Oste: Dutch comic artist.
- Wil Klaassen: Dutch field hockey player.
- Emma Klaasen: Dutch female volleyball player.