Surname Claaß - Meaning and Origin
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Claaß: What does the surname Claaß mean?
The last name Claaß is of German and Dutch origin and is an anglicized version of the German surname Claas. The name Claaß is composed of two elements: the German/Dutch word 'klaas', which is derived from the Latin 'claudius', meaning "lame, or crippled", and the second element 's', which is a patronymic surname suffix meaning "son of".
The family name Claaß is thought to be derived from a personal name, a given name originating from an ancestor's personal characteristics. In this case, those who adopted the name Claaß were likely descendants of someone who had been crippled or lame in some way.
The Claaß surname is now found chiefly in the German-speaking countries of central Europe, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Austria. It is also found in small numbers across the world, particularly in the United States and Canada.
Overall, the last name Claaß suggests that those who adopted the name long ago were descendants of someone with a physical disability. This makes the name both a reminder of the unique history of those ancestors, and a testament to the perseverance of their family line.
Order DNA origin analysisClaaß: Where does the name Claaß come from?
The surname Claaß is German in origin. It is particularly common in the German states of Northern Germany, specifically in the federal states of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and Hamburg. It is also relatively common in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and in the northern part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
In the rest of Germany, the surname Claaß is less common. It can be found in small numbers outside of Germany, primarily in countries with a large German population, such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina.
In Germany, the Claaß surname likely developed from the Old German surname Claas, an occupational name given to workers who collected rents or taxes. Other theories suggest the name was derived from the old Christian name "Clas," derived from the Latin "Claudius," meaning "lame" or "stumbling."
The variation Claaß is a variant of Claas, indicating the name's Dutch-Low German origin, in which the letter "a" often replaces the letter "es". The Claaß surname is still common in Northern Germany, although it is slowly fading. However, it is still very common in Germany with more than 9,000 people carrying the surname.
In recent years, the surname has been seen more often in English-speaking countries, with the surname being rendered as Claß in some cases. So, while the surname is most commonly found in Northern Germany, it can be found in other countries, especially those with a large German population.
Variations of the surname Claaß
The surname Claaß can have several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Claaß is the common spelling of the surname. Variations in spelling include Claass, Klass, Klaas, Claes, Clas, Claesz, Clasen, and Klaasen.
Clasen, Claesen, and Klaasen are Dutch spellings of the surname. Clas is a Swiss variant, while Claes and Claesz are Flemish. Another variation is Clasen, which is German in origin.
The surname has origins in Scandinavia, where it is derived from the given name Claus. Claus is the German and Dutch form of Nicholas, a Greek name meaning 'victory of the people.'
In the United States, the Claaß surname is most common among individuals of Dutch descent. It is also found among those with German and Scandinavian heritage.
Other surnames of similar origin to Claaß include Claessen, Claassens, Klass, Klassen, Klas, Klasen, Klaas, Klaasse, Claass, Claasen, Claassen, Claasz, Clas, Clasen, Clasens, Claas, Claus, Clausing, and Klasing.
Most variants of the surname Claaß can be found throughout the Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, and the United States.
Famous people with the name Claaß
- Dirk Claassen: German footballer
- Mara Claaß: German actress
- Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer-Claaß: Dutch Noblewoman and socialite
- Leonard Claassen: South African deafblind activist
- Ludwig Claassen: German politician
- Klaas de Vries: Dutch politician
- Elizabeth Claassen: Dutch musician
- Ingemar Claassen: German sculptor
- Fred Claassen: Dutch surgeon
- Judy Claassen-Ritz: German academic and author