Surname Klaassen - Meaning and Origin

Klaassen: What does the surname Klaassen mean?

The Dutch surname Klaassen is a patronymic name derived from the Old Dutch given name Claus. The personal name Claus is derived from the Latin personal name Nicolaus, meaning “victory of the people.” Klaassen is an ancient Dutch name and was first found in the records of the Middle Ages in the region of Oldenburg.

In early times this name was spelled in many different forms, including Clasen, Claysen, Clace, Klaasse, Claasen, and Klaassen. Patronymic surnames developed in many places throughout Europe when hereditary surnames were adopted, and the Klaassen name originated from Dutch sources.

Klaassen originally referred to a person from the town of Clessen, Lower Saxony (clessen is an old variant for Klaassen). It was there that the name was first spelled Klaassen in documents dated 1445 and 1545. It was also used in the Netherlands as early as 1732 and later in other parts of Europe, including England and America.

The name Klaassen has been used across the centuries to distinguish people and has even become the basis for various regional dialects and language groups. Today, it signifies the unique Dutch heritage and may be used as a sign of pride.

Klaassen: Where does the name Klaassen come from?

The last name Klaassen is most commonly seen in the Netherlands, although it is present in other countries as well. The Netherlands is the most populous country in the world with this surname, with an estimated population of more than 200,000 people. Other countries where the name is not as prominently found, but still present, include Germany, Canada, the United States, Australia, and Belgium.

In the Netherlands, the last name Klaassen is very popular and is one of the top Dutch last names in many provinces such as Drenthe, North Holland, Flevoland, South Holland, Friesland, North Brabant, Overijssel, Gelderland, Limburg, and Zeeland.

The origin and meaning of the last name Klaassen are unknown. It is believed to be derived from Claus, a medieval form of Nicholas. It could also come from a Dutch word meaning “statue,” referring to the wooden statues of Dutch saints such as Saint Nicholas, and possibly even the image of the Dutch saint itself.

The name is still present in the Netherlands today, even as the Dutch population is becoming increasingly diverse with immigrants from other places, and the last name Klaassen is still used in many Dutch families.

In the United States, the last name Klaassen is still present, but far less common than in the Netherlands. The population of individuals with the last name Klaassen in the United States is only about 4,000.

Variations of the surname Klaassen

The surname Klaassen has a variety of spellings and variants stemming from its various origins.

In Dutch, Klaassen is the most common spelling, and it descends from the Dutch alternative spelling of the name Claes, which was first found in the region of The Netherlands and other nearby Germanic territories. It typically appears as Klassen, Claassen, Cleassen, Klaasen, Klässen in Dutch-speaking countries.

In Germany, Klaassen typically appears as Klassen, Klassmann, Kläßmann, Classen, and Klässen, depending on the region.

In Scandinavian countries, the surname is typically accounted for as Klassen, Classen, Klasson, or Klässon.

In North America, the variant forms of Klaassen include Claassen, Kleassen, Clasen, Klass, Klasson, Klason, Classon, and Class, while the variants stemming from the other parts of Europe can all be found in America too.

In the Czech/Slovak region, the surname is commonly found as Klas, Klás, or Kláš. In Scandinavian-speaking countries, the variants are Klasen, Klausen, Klauson, Clausson, and Claussen.

In Finland, Klasson, Klason, and Klauson are the most commonly seen variants, while in French-speaking areas, the forms typically appear as Clasion, Closon, Clason, Classon, Kloson, Klosan, Clasan, or Claesen.

Lastly, in the Addoms' surname studies, Klaassen is seen as Clayson, Clason, Claesen, Classon, Claassen, Kleassen, Clasen, Claussen, Classen, Klasen, Klasson, and Klason.

Famous people with the name Klaassen

• Jeroen Klaassen: Dutch professional endurance athlete
• Ajax Klaassen: Dutch painter and illustrator
• John Klaassen: Canadian politician who served as an MLA in Alberta
• Kay Klaassen: Canadian curler
• John Klaassen: American artist
• Dave Klaassen: American football coach and player
• B. de Klaassen: Dutch painter
• Ron Klaassen: Canadian footballer
• Sylvia Klaassen: Canadian actress
• Bernhard Klaassen: German illustrator
• Robin Klaassen: Dutch professional football player
• Peter Klaassen: Dutch author
• Jim Klaassen: American Politician
• Philippe Klaassen: Belgian football player
• Jan Klaassen: Dutch fictional character known from the traditional Dutch puppet theater

Other surnames

KlaassKlaassens