Surname Klößer - Meaning and Origin
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Klößer: What does the surname Klößer mean?
The surname Klößer (Kloesser) is a German topographic surname, which was given to people who lived near city walls. The etymology of the surname is derived from the German word “klöß,” which means “lozenge-shaped stone,” referring to the construction and architecture of the city walls. The name likely would have been given to a person who either lived close to the city walls or was employed in the construction of them.
The Klößer surname is found primarily in Germany, with a few records in Sweden and Denmark. It is also an uncommon name in the United States, where a small number of immigrants are believed to have changed the spelling of the surname to Kloesser upon their arrival.
The surname of Klößer can be seen primarily as a reflection of the skills and trades practiced in the past. It is also a reminder of a time when strong city walls were necessary for defense, a reminder of the perseverance of generations of people and their achievements.
Order DNA origin analysisKlößer: Where does the name Klößer come from?
The last name Klößer is most commonly found in areas of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, and France. It is speculated that the surname originated in Germany in the late medieval period and was a habitational name derived from places named Kloß or Klößer, such as those found in the Rhineland and the former Prussian province of West Prussia. The surname is derived from the Dutch word kloos, which means “enclosure”, and is likely related to the Middle High German loz meaning "nest".
Over time, the spelling of the last name has changed as it migrated to other countries. Common variants of the surname found today include Kloesser, Kloessner, Kloeßer, Kloeser, Kloosser, Kloßer, Klößner, Klözner, Klozner, Kleusser, Klehsser, Klesser, Closer, and Clouer.
Today, most bearers of the last name Klößer live in German-speaking countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The last name is currently ranked as the 1,267th most common surname in Germany and the 6,420th most common surname in the Netherlands.
Given the popularity of the last name Klößer in German-speaking countries, it is likely that bearers of its variants may also be found in other Germanic countries, as well as in some areas of Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Klößer
The surname Klößer is a common German and Austrian surname, with multiple different variants being used throughout its history. It is most commonly spelled Klößer, but there are many other popular variants, such as Clauser, Klaser, Closer, Klosse, Closer, Kloster, Kloesser, Klosser, Kloesser, Cloeser, and Kloeser.
The origin of the surname is slightly uncertain, though it is suggested to be a toponymic name. The name could have been derived from a place name, which could refer to either an area in the mountains or a settlement in the area, signifying someone who came from that area or was associated with it. It is also possible that the name could be occupational, derived from the German word "klößer," which means stonemason or builder.
In addition to these spelling variations, the surname has given rise to a few variants over the years. The most popular is Clößer, which is found mostly in Germany and Austria, and is a variant of the original Klößer.
Other variants found in Germany and Austria include Closer, Klaser, Klosse, Klosseer, Kloster, Kloesser, Klosser, Kloesser, and Cloeser. In America, the variants Kloeser and Clozer are more commonly encountered.
Despite the various spellings and variants of the surname, all are derived from the same source, and can be used to trace the mural ancestries.
Famous people with the name Klößer
- Johannes Klößer: an Austrian composer who performed with the Vienna Boys' Choir.
- Alma Klößer: the first female doctor in Austria.
- Egon Klößer: a German artist, photographer and collector of curiosities.
- Hans Klößer: German actor and director.
- Hermann Klößer: a German actor and film director.
- Felix Klößer: a German journalist and writer.
- Antonín Klößer: a Czechoslovakian composer and organist.
- Andreas Klößer: a German engineer and inventor.
- Bettina Klößer: an Austrian sculptor and painter.
- Karla Klößer: a German film actress, best known for her roles in The Great Escape and The Longest Day.
- Harry Klößer: a German-American architect who designed and built many of the prominent pre-war houses in Los Angeles.
- Wolfgang Klößer: a German theater and cinema director.
- Heinrich Klößer: a German geographer, cartographer and explorer.
- Karl Klößer: a German chemist and professor of chemistry at the University of Heidelberg.
- Ulrich Klößer: a German diplomat who served in the government of Nazi Germany.