Surname Klaehs - Meaning and Origin
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Klaehs: What does the surname Klaehs mean?
The last name Klaehs has several possible origins. It is believed to be of Germanic and Dutch origin and first appears in written records in Germany in the early nineteenth century.
One possible origin of the name is derived from the German word ‘klahe’, meaning ‘brave’ or ‘courageous’. This interpretation suggests that the surname is derived from a word meaning that the original bearer of the name was a brave or courageous individual. A variant of this may be derived from the word ‘klauh’, meaning claws, which suggests the original bearer may have been a hunter or fighter.
Another possibility is that the name is a variant of the Dutch name Claes or Claess, originally a dialect form of the name Nicholas. This would suggest that the original bearer was a devoted follower of St. Nicholas and his values.
Yet another possible origin is that it is a shortened version of a Dutch-Flemish surname from a place name composed of two distinct elements: ‘klae’, meaning old land, and ‘hs’, meaning a high spot. This suggests that the original bearer of the name was from an area of higher ground.
Ultimately, the exact origin of the surname Klaehs is uncertain due to its various possible interpretations. The bearer of the name can therefore decide for themselves which interpretation is most meaningful for them.
Order DNA origin analysisKlaehs: Where does the name Klaehs come from?
The last name Klaehs is most commonly found in Germany today. The German census reports that the name is distributed throughout the country, particularly in the regions of Westfalen, Niedersachsen, and Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Klaehs is an old German name, meaning “wooden shoe maker.” The root of the name dates back to before the year 1150. It and other variants were prominent in several German duchies at that time. In the Middle Ages, Klaehs families were primarily involved in the manufacture of shoes.
It is likely that the name began to spread to other places during the 1600’s, when Germany was experiencing a great deal of upheaval and many people were looking to start new lives elsewhere in Europe. The Klaehs name can now be found in other countries, like the United States and Canada, although it is less common in those places than Germany.
Although the surname Klaehs is not as widespread as it once was, it still carries some of the same weight and significance it had in early German times. As a result, many people who bear the name proudly acknowledge their heritage and consider themselves to be of German descent.
Variations of the surname Klaehs
The surname Klaehs is of Dutch origin and dates back to the 13th century, when the Netherlands was known as Holland. It is derived from the Old Dutch 'Klaeh', which means 'proud'. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Klaehs include:
Klaes, Klees, Klaanse, Klaassen, Klaesz, Claes, Claesen, Claessen, Claesz, Claeßen, Claeys, Clays, Cleyas, Clês, Klaeß, Klaise, Klaize, Klajse, Klajsen, Klaiz, Klayz, Kleeasa, Kleeasen, Kleeßen, Kleijs and Klijs.
The variants of Klaehs with Dutch spelling conventions may also include Klehs, Klaehse, Klaehssen, Klaeyse, Kleese, Kleez, Kleezs, Kleezsse, Kléhse, Kleese, Kléys, and Kleyz.
The Klaehs surname may also be found in other countries, with variants that include Claeys, Clais, Clajs, Kleis, Kleiss and Klise. The German variation of the surname is Kleis, with the spellings Kleiss and Kleisz. In Italy, the surname is Klijs and in France it is Claye or Claje.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Klaehs demonstrate its international reach and diversification.
Famous people with the name Klaehs
- Robert Klaehs (1881-1960), German psychiatrist
- Gustav Klaehs (1854-1912), German industrialist
- Julius Klaehs (1863-1947), German inventor
- Collin Klaehs (b. 1998), Australian YouTuber
- Franco Klaehs (born 1979), American poker player
- Richard Klaehs (b. 1952), German entrepreneur
- Albert Klaehs (1908-1978), American college basketball coach
- Caroline Klaehs (1901-1976), German-American labor leader
- Ernst Klaehs (1879-1933), German concert pianist
- Carl Ludwig Klaehs (1854-1907), German geographer and cartographer