Surname Cleß - Meaning and Origin
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Cleß: What does the surname Cleß mean?
The last name Cleß is of Germanic origin and is a habitational name derived from any of the various places throughout Europe named Cleß or Kless. It is thought to be derived from the German word klies, meaning a steep place or cliff.
In early records, the family is recorded in the states of Thuringia, Saxony, Brandenburg, Prussia, Hessen, Bavaria, Baden, and many others, making it one of the oldest and most widespread surnames in Germany.
The earliest recorded mentions of the Cleß surname appeared in documents from the Middle Ages, particularly in records from the 13th century. During this period, Cleß family members were mainly administrators and officials in local courts, and also acted as governing officials of large estates.
In 1567, Johann Cleß was appointed priest of St Thomas in Erfurt, a position he held for fifty years. When Johann died, a memorial was erected in his name, which has remained standing since.
The coat of arms of the Cleß family is described as a green field with a red inverted chevron, with a silver flower with a yellow center in each corner of the field.
The Cleß surname has spread significantly over the centuries, and it is now found among many cultures all over the world. As a result of its widespread usage, it has come to mean many different things depending on the context. Generally, though, it is seen as a symbol of hard work, determination, and faithfulness.
Order DNA origin analysisCleß: Where does the name Cleß come from?
The last name Cleß is most commonly found today in Germany. It is believed that the name dates back to the middle ages and is derived from an old Germanic word meaning "little clover" due to the location of many of the original Cleß families farming clover fields. Since the middle ages, people with the Cleß surname have migrated throughout Europe and beyond. The Cleß surname can still be found concentrated primarily in Germany along with Austria, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands.
In the United States, Cleß families began to arrive in the 1800s through Ellis Island as part of the wave of German immigrants. Over the years, they have moved and settled throughout the country and can now be found in most states. However, the highest concentrations of the Cleß last name exist in states with strong ties to German heritage such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and New York.
Today, the Cleß surname is still strongly associated with German heritage but has also spread into other areas such as Scandinavian, British and Irish culture. It is also quite common to those of Jewish and Eastern European decent. In total, the Cleß surname can be found in over 17 countries and 250,000 people throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Cleß
The surname Cleß has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Klae, Klaes, Klass, Kleß, Cless, Kleiss, Kless, Klein, Clase, Clessen, Claus, Clausen, Claussen, Klees, Kleeß, Kleeßen, Kleissen, Clees, Cleesen, Kleese, Cleise, Kliese, Klese, Kleisser, Cleß, Clise, Clisse, Kliße, Kloß, Klosser, Cloesen, and Cloß.
Klae, Kleß, and Klass originate from the German word “Klaes”, meaning “stiff, hard”, as well as from the name of a tree “Klaas”. Klae, Kleß, and Klass are believed to be derived from an old Germanic personal name, which was initially spelled with a K, eventually transforming to the modern spelling of Cleß.
Kleese and Kleissen are derived from Low German, which gives us the modern spellings of Clees and Kleesen. Kleese and Kleissen are believed to be derived from the German word “kleis”, which means “keys”.
Kleeß, Kleeßen, and Kleisser all derive from the Middle German term “Kleyß”, meaning “pleasant” or “agreeable”. This spelling was also used to refer to someone who was cheerful and jovial.
Kless, Kleiss, Cleise, Kliese, and Klese all have the same origin as Kleß, which is the Middle German word “Kleyß”.
Clase, Clessen, Claus, Clausen, Claussen, Cloesen, Cloise, Cloß, and Klosser all originate from the German word “Kloß”, which means “dumpling”. This surname likely originated because of its similarity in pronunciation to Kleß.
Clise, Clisse, and Kliße have the same origin as Kleß, which is the Middle German term “Kleyß”. Clise and Clisse are believed to be derived from the Old High German word “kleis”, which means “frisky” or “playful”.
In conclusion, Cleß has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin; some of which originate from Middle and Old High German terms, while others are derived from Low German and Old Germanic personal names.
Famous people with the name Cleß
- Fritz Cleß, a West German long distance runner and member of the 1952 German Olympic team.
- Wilhelm Cleß, a composer and musicologist active in the 19th century
- Werner Cleß, a East German former footballer
- Johann Cleß, a German writer of the Enlightenment period
- Charles Cleß, a professionally reliable German architect of the 18th century
- Bernhard Cleß, a boxer who competed at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics
- Mark Cleß, a German professional footballer who currently plays for KFC Uerdingen 05
- Josef Cleß, a German geologist who conducted research into the geology of Hesse
- Heinrich Cleß, a German neurologist and psychiatrist of the 19th century
- Nina Cleß, a German gold medalist in figure skating at the 2000 World Junior Championships.