Surname Klooth - Meaning and Origin
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Klooth: What does the surname Klooth mean?
The surname Klooth is of Germanic origin, likely derived from a contracted form of the name "Klebberth," which means "grizzly bear." The surname Klooth may have first arrived in North America during the 19th century, when many German immigrants began to settle in various parts of the United States.
Klooth is an unusual surname in that the spelling changes often depending on the locality and period. It is assumed that the spelling was altered to fit local dialects and customs, and it is even sometimes found spelled as 'Kluth.'
There is limited historical information on the surname Klooth. However, it is likely that the surname was adopted by a family of German heritage, although research has not revealed the exact origins. Some experts suggest that it is part of the class of German “clan” or “claster” names; meaning the surname is derived from a distinct group of people.
Today, Klooth is not a particularly common surname, even among German-Americans. Nevertheless, it is still found mainly in the United States and Canada in some scattered locations, presumably tracing back to ancestors who arrived long ago with the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisKlooth: Where does the name Klooth come from?
The last name Klooth is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. It is a toponymic surname, derived from the settlement of Kloosterburen in the province of Groningen. The name can also be found in small numbers in other Dutch speaking countries such as Belgium and the French-speaking province of Wallonia.
The earliest documented record of the surname is from the thirteenth century, when a man by the name of Jacob de Kloethe, or “of the Cloister”, is cited as living in Kloosterburen, Groningen. The record mentions a coat of arms belonging to the family.
In recent decades the last name Klooth has seen a notable rise in popularity in the Netherlands. In 2019, it ranked in the top 700 surnames out of more than 300,000 Dutch surnames. Furthermore, it has become a popular first name among Dutch parents.
Despite its prevalence in the Netherlands, the last name Klooth is still extremely rare elsewhere in the world. As recently as the year 2000, it was virtually non-existent in the United States, and the few individuals bearing this name in the UK are likely Dutch nationals.
The chances of encountering a person with the last name Klooth outside of Dutch-speaking Europe are inadequate, however, this should not be a deterrent to anyone curious about the etymology of the name. The Kloosdet family of Kloosterburen have stayed in the same place for centuries, a unique and inspiring example of a regional surname’s continuity and relevance.
Variations of the surname Klooth
The surname Klooth is a Dutch and German patronymic surname derived from the Dutch name Kloot, meaning “ball” or “globe”. The Klooth family got its name from a person who had a round and globular head, or who was known for being a “ball” or fun person. Throughout the centuries, the name Klooth has had several variations in spelling, as surnames were often recorded in various ways depending on how they sounded to the local parish clerks.
Variations of the surname Klooth include Kloot, Kleut, Klooht, Klein, Kleyn, Kloet, Kleuth, Cleuth, Kloeh, Kleinh, Kleynh, Kloeten, Kleuten, Kloehn, Kleynh, Kloether, Klether, Klewer, Kleyer, Kluever, Kleywer, Klowwer, Kleywer, Klower, Kleywer, Kloethe, Klethe, Klueve, Kleyve, Klewerth, Kleywerth, Kloeten, Kleuten.
Surnames of similar origin to Klooth include Kolodeff, Kloess, Kolose, Kleist, Kley, Kloosterman, Kluever, Klimke, Kleinschmidt, Kleinschmiedt, Klopper, Kleykamp and Klyver.
The many variants of the Klooth surname suggest how many individuals of this family have made their way throughout the Netherlands, Germany and other countries throughout the centuries.
Famous people with the name Klooth
- André Klooth: Dutch speed skater
- Jan van Klootwijk: Former professional football defender
- Loes Klooth: Dutch television presenter
- Sophia Klootwijk: Dutch para-snowboarder
- Sofie Klootwijk: Dutch footballer
- Wessel Klooth: Dutch professional basketball player
- Jakob Klootwijk: Professional football midfielder
- Hendrikus Klootwijk: Dutch football manager
- Martha Klooth: American news anchor
- Bart Klooth: Dutch radio and television presenter